Val d'Argent Green Way (Sélestat - Ste Marie Aux Mines)

From the Val d'Argent to the Alsace plain by bike

The Val d'Argent greenway, built on the former railway line connecting Sélestat to Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, is a unique cycle path in Alsace, ideal for a family outing. Located in the Haut-Rhin department, it winds through the heart of the Lièpvrette valley, offering a verdant setting where agricultural landscapes, forests, and industrial heritage alternate. This safe route, largely on its own dedicated path, is suitable for both traditional bicycles and e-bikes, allowing everyone to ride at their own pace.

Consulting the map of the Val d'Argent greenway (Sélestat – Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines), you'll discover a route of approximately 25 km passing through villages steeped in mining and textile history, notably Sainte-Croix-aux-Mines and Lièpvre. The route serves the following villages: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, Sainte-Croix-aux-Mines, Lièpvre, and Champs-le-Moine, before ending in the Alsace plain at Châtenois, Kintzheim, and Sélestat. These stops invite exploration: local farms, farmers' markets, and a self-service bike repair station dot the path. Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, the valley's hub, is famous for the European Patchwork Meeting and its international mineral and fossil fair, events that attest to the region's vibrant cultural scene.

The walk is also distinguished by its panoramic views: by looking up, you can sometimes see the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, an iconic sentinel overlooking the Alsace plain. With a bit of luck, deer or does can be observed at the edge of the forest, adding a wild touch to the experience.

The Val d'Argent greenway is not isolated: it forms part of the Alsatian cycle network and joins, on the Bas-Rhin side, the IC42 route towards Châtenois and Val-de-Villé. For the more athletic, a 12 km extension leads to the Col du Bonhomme, gateway to the High Vosges.

Accessible, varied and rich in discoveries, this greenway is much more than just a cycle path: it is an invitation to explore Alsace differently, gently and in total immersion in the Val d'Argent.