Distance : approximately 30 kilometres

Duration : from 1 hour, 15 minutes to 1hour and a half (depending on your bicycle skills)

Cycle on the bicycle path that is on your right, towards Achenheim. During the first meters you will cycle alongside fishponds. Thanks to the « no kill » policy, carps and roachs are numerous.

A bit further, on your right, you will see the Wienerberger brickworks which was the world first brick manufacturer.

While cycling you will slightly move away from Strasboug and its factories. Oberschaeffolsheim is the farthest village of the CUS (Communauté Urbaine de Strasbourg), towards the West.

So now you arrived at Achenheim. As for Hagenbieten, the next village, clay is extracted and tiles and bricks are manufactured since the Roman Times.   Moreover, the canal was used to transport those materials until 1939. Recently, ARBRES, the local environmental organisation of which I am a member, ask the elected representatives and the manufacturers to reconsider the bricks transport on the canal to the nearest rail way, not be subject to constant coming and going of trucks. "Impossible", they answered !

It is quite astonishing that with modern technologies we cannot do what had been done in 1682! Despite an abvious ecological interest, Wienerberger and Alsace miss the opportunity to promote and enhance an "environmentally friendly" image on the world scale.

As far as Achenheim is concerned, take a look at the laundry the municipality have conserved and maintain.

It is where young couples meet.

A bit further, over the canal, a curious construction made of concrete and glass shelters, there is a swimming pool. Then, the nature reasserts its dominance, surrounds you, and take you accross a wonderful biotope.

Let's start with a small path by the foot of the Achenheim hill, which is an ancient quarry slate, sheltering remarkable flora an fauna.

If you are not in a hurry (why would you be in a rush?!), put your feet on the ground while arriving on the metallic footbridge and go for a walk on the path that winds along the hill. Experienced mountain bakers will enjoy the small but steep ascent that goes to the village.

Now, let's return to the cycle path.

The canal is wilder and wilder and, yet, the nature had reasserted its dominance. We are close to Kolbsheim. Here, you will see sawns, wild duck, water hens and with a bit of luck, you will be able to see coypus, our local castors.

But remain attentive to what is going on the path, because you may meet beautiful girls playing roller. You will certainly meet riders coming from the Tour de France! In principle, the speed limit is 25 km/h…

The Bruche river has its source in the Vosges. After being abused for a long time by neghbouring industries, and fertilizer such as nitrates used in the intensive agriculture, the water begins to recover, is clearer and is now sheltering limpidité originelle et accueillent à nouveau les saumons salmons.

Between Kolbsheim (a castle with a superb french typical garden that you can visit by prior appointment) and Ernolsheim you may meet a banner with "Non au CGO" writing on it.

Along the way you will be able to admire the lock house. If the locks are not into service anymore, the houses are still inhabite.

At 12 km : You reach Ergersheim.
Are you thirsty ? You're lucky : you will be given a warm welcome at the restaurant « Au Canal », where you will be able to quench your thirst and eat on a beautiful terrace. To reserve a place, dial the following number and say that you are calling from us. It is at the intersection with the road D30, on the cycle path.

On the last part of your ride along the canal, you will drive safely on the road alongside beautiful houses, gardens and orchards.  
Have a look to the hills on your right. You have already arrived at Wolxheim vineyard.

Your milometer displays 14,8 km from Le Petit Schelishans.

The canal path stops here, but the cycle one continues either towards Molsheim (taking the walk bridge towards the south) or towards Marlenheim and Saverne continuing straight in direction of the west. (My bike is beautilf , isn’t it? It is a Gitane one, pitchfork and carbon!)

Take a few moments on the bridge of the Avolsheim weir,to have an overview of Sébastien Le Prestre’s ingenuity, (he was the marquis of Vauban). Equipped with valves, the bridge is a remarkable work was designed to feed the canal with the Bruche waters. The place was not chosen by chance. In fact, it is in this place that a small tributary called the “Mossig” flows into the river.

When it is in flood, a part of the overflow flos into the Mossig riverbed. Downstream, the Bruche is bordered by water meadows called the « rieds ». Those areas are unconstructible.

There you are: you are half way. The next step is just to go back to the Petit Schelishans through the same way. We assure you that you will see things you did not notice on the way out! Have a nice and safe trip!