Nature park Ballons des Vosges
Les Marcaires, the race in the heart of the Regional Natural Park of Ballons des Vosges
With the Hautes-Vosges at its heart, the Regional Nature Park, parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges dives to the Vosges and Haut-Rhin valleys, the Thousand Ponds plateau, the Vosges region and the Alsatian vine piedmont.
The park is home to rare natural environments, such as the high-stubble, peat bogs, beech fir forests, oak and beech forests, calcareous grasslands, streams, lakes and ponds.
These diverse environments are home to the fauna and flora which is emblematic of our massif.
A regional natural park is also an inhabited territory, visited, rich in cultural discoveries, local producers and exceptional landscapes.
The valley of Munster counts all these assets. As such, it is a privileged access door to discover the Vosges mountains.
Let yourself be surprised by this cyclosportive where everyone will find his happiness, in an authentic and unique sites of unspoilt nature, in a landscape with exceptional sceneries….
The Gran Fondo of the discoveries
If the start is located in Gunsbach, a charming little village before the valley, it is not a coincidence. It is world famous for being the village of Albert Schweitzer, Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 but also for his Maison du fromage.
Absolutely to discover! Go to meet a cheese, a valley, a culture …
If the Munster Valley offers beautiful peaks and passes for cycling enthusiasts, the Tour de France also regularly follows these routes (Schlucht Pass, Wettstein Pass, Platzerwasel Pass and the Petit-Ballon among others), it remains the paradise of hiking with these 365 km of trails.
Finally, Gaschney resort will surprise you as finish line of the race.
With its magnificent view of the Hohneck Massif and the Munster Valley, the Gaschney and its steep slopes make it the most sporting resort of the Vosges Massif.