Mountain bike route: Firstplan Route

Close to Lautenbach, and before reaching the Boenlesgrab pass - the culminating poing of this hike - this route will take you to the heights of the charming village of Wintzfelden, next to Soultzmatt via the Firstplan pass (view of the Petit Ballon Massif).


Lautenbach:
This town seems to have its origins in a religious institution. It is likely that during the 8th century, the Irish Abbey Honau created a priory in the upper valley of the Lauch River. Very quickly, a secular community settled around the religious community. Until the early 19th century, the population lived modestly from farming and forestry. Iron mines operate in the small valley of St. Gangolphe, but this activity has never been of great importance. In 1789, the inhabitants of Lautenbach obtained, under the threat of an armed insurrection, the rights to use the forests and pastures. Industry came to the village with the cotton twisting industry created by the Anglo-Dutch De Jongh.


Level: Difficult
Start: Bannstein Col
Distance: 20.10 km
Difference in altitude (positive gain): 599 m
Towns crossed: Soultzmatt, Rouffach and Lautenbach