Visiting Goersdorf: the Liebfrauenberg and hikes in the Northern Vosges

In the north of Alsace, on the edge of the Northern Vosges, Goersdorf is a peaceful village surrounded by orchards, fields and forests. Overlooked by the Liebfrauenberg hill, it makes an ideal starting point for hiking in the Regional Nature Park and for discovering the history of this corner of Alsace, marked by the battle of 1870.

Goersdorf at a glance

Goersdorf (sometimes spelled Gœrsdorf) is a village in the Bas-Rhin with just over 1,000 inhabitants. Since 1973 it has also included the former village of Mitschdorf. The area lies within the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park, and the village sits just north of Woerth, in the Sauer valley. Its history goes back a long way: Goersdorf appears several times in the charters of Wissembourg Abbey and belonged to the lords of Lichtenberg in the late Middle Ages.

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The Liebfrauenberg, Our Lady’s hill

Above the village, the Liebfrauenberg (“Our Lady’s Mount”) was a popular place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages, with a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The chapel disappeared when the village adopted the Reformation in the 16th century; the site was later rebuilt and then turned into a residence in the 19th century, now known as the “Château du Liebfrauenberg”. Bought in 1954 by a Protestant association, the estate became a meeting and training centre for the Protestant Churches of Alsace and Moselle. So it is not a monument open to visitors, but its surroundings offer a fine view over the valley and are the starting point for several trails.

The heritage of Mitschdorf

In Mitschdorf, the Protestant church (known as the Church of the Three Kings) is well worth a stop: the wall paintings in its tower have been listed as a historic monument since 1898. The streets of both villages also retain several half-timbered farmhouses typical of northern Alsace.

Hiking around Goersdorf

• The GR 532: a stage of about 13 km (6 hours, moderate difficulty) links the Liebfrauenberg to Obersteinbach, in the heart of the Northern Vosges, through forests and sandstone rocks.
• The Goersdorf forest: many loops waymarked by the Club Vosgien start from the village and from the Liebfrauenberg.
• Walks towards Lampertsloch or Preuschdorf: easy routes through orchards and hills, starting from Mitschdorf.
• For more inspiration, see our ideas for nature hikes in Alsace.

Parking at the Liebfrauenberg is sometimes restricted: park further down if the car park is closed, and check the condition of footbridges and trails before setting off.

In the surrounding area

• Woerth (a few kilometres away): the small town and its museum devoted to the Battle of Froeschwiller-Woerth of 6 August 1870, as well as the many memorials scattered across the countryside.
• Merkwiller-Pechelbronn: the birthplace of oil extraction in Alsace, with its oil museum.
• The castles of the Northern Vosges: Fleckenstein, Windstein or Wasenbourg, around half an hour’s drive away. See also our guide to the castles of Alsace.
• Hunspach: the famous village of white houses, about twenty minutes away by car.

How to get to Goersdorf

By car, the easiest way is to head for Haguenau, then follow the D27 to Woerth and take the road to Goersdorf from there; allow about an hour from Strasbourg. The village has no railway station: the nearest stations are on the Haguenau – Wissembourg line or in Haguenau itself. A car or a bike is therefore recommended for exploring the area.

When to come and what to taste

Spring, when the orchards are in blossom, and autumn, when the forests change colour, are the ideal seasons for hiking. As for food, northern Alsace is the home of tarte flambée: try our flammekueche recipe and discover all the Alsatian specialities.

Enzo

Hi, I'm Enzo! I'm the guy who loves lacing up his hiking boots to explore the rugged trails of the Vosges. Passionate about nature and photography, I take you along through articles that capture the scent of fir forests and the charm of mountain lakes. I live for those moments when the sun rises over the Haut-Koenigsbourg or when I stumble upon an authentic inn along the way. My goal? To inspire you to get out, breathe in the fresh Alsatian air, and always have a great spot for a tarte flambée to share at the end of the day.

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