Lahr - Obernai

(1 Leg: 45 km)

Obernai is a small town in the Alsace region. Obernai's historic center counts numerous half-timbered houses from the late Middle-Age and the Renaissance. Tourism is an important economic factor for the city. Many pubs, restaurants, coffeehouses and small boutiques can be found there.

Rue du Marché in Obernai

Place Rue du Marché in Obernai

The first half of the route is identical to the way to Illkirch-Graffenstaden. We cross the Rhine valley and go through typical Alsatian villages such as Erstein, Schaeffersheim, Meistratzheim and Niedernai. After a visit of Obernai, one can take the same way back home.

Cycling path across the alluvial forest First, we take the cycling path Rhine-Schutter Valley towards the Rhine. One can also take the cycling path along the B36. After about 5 km we reach the bypass channel of the Schutter. We cross the B36 and take the gravel path on the dike of the channel, and then pass below the highway. After, we continue along the channel. At the first intersection, we cross the bypass channel and continue on the other side of the channel past a sewage plant and across the alluvial forest.

At the end of the alluvial forest, we see an oxbow lake of the Rhine. Especially during winter time, it attracts lots of swans. We have also arrived at the end of the cycling path.
The Ill in Erstein A short and steep climb on a gravel road leads back up to the main street. Then we cross the Rhine and arrive in France. We take the street on the dike until we reach the lock of Gerstheim, where we cross the Grand Canal of Alsace.

We pass by two roundabouts and follow the indication towards Erstein. The street crosses the Rhine-Rhone channel and the sugar refinery of Erstein. We reach the village of Erstein at the next roundabout. We continue on cycling paths, partly on the street, across the Ill, towards the train station (follow "gare").
The street between Erstein and Obernai We cross the bridge across the D1083 and the railways. At the next roundabout, the cycling path crosses the street and we go by Erstein's industrial zone. The museum Würth Erstein is also in the same neighbourhood, a little away from the track. We need to cross the street once more, after the next roundabout. (It might be easier to just take the street rather than cross it.) Then we arrive in Schaeffersheim. From there, we take the D426 towards Meistratzheim. The street is flat with little traffic. Eventually we take the cycling path along the street towards Niedernai.

After turning left, we arrive on the signposted way to Obernai. After a few turns and corners, we arrive on the D1422. We briefly have to take the street while we go right, and then turn left. The pathway crosses the highway. Finally a cycling path follows the Ehn river and leads us into Obernai's city center.

Half-timbered houses in Obernai	Town hall in Obernai
	Rue d'Obernai
Caroussel in Obernai	Half-timbered house in Obernai