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R04 Ribeauville to Urbes
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Hans van de Ven (Mr.MRA)
Last edit: 18-04-2021
Route Summary
Charming Alsace and the rugged slopes ensure that you will not soon forget the Vosges. Colorful, atmospheric, curves and challenging cols. Of course, the Grand Ballon should not be missed, but you will also come across some tough mountain passes. Great to steer during the day and enjoy the French delicacies in the evening.

Starting point: Ribeauville, Au Cheval Blanc
End point: Urbès, Moto-Hotel du Col de Bussang

The route is equalized for Garmin, TomTom and MRA Navigation.

Bon voyage.
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Verdict
Duration
7h 48m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
232.16 km
Countries
Vosges, wine & curves
RouteXpert Review
Alsace is located in the far north-east of France, between the mountains of the Vosges and the Rhine. In the past, France and Germany often changed their money when it came to this area. Then it belonged to Germany again, then to France again. You still notice that. The region still has many German (own) niceties. The hearty German food, the dialect and the many flower balconies, they all refer to the other side of the Rhine.

This route takes you Ribeauvillé to Urbès, you will pass no less than 11 cols along the way, including the Grand Ballon.
This route is full of curves, from village to village, from col to col, with a few nice stops for a drink and a meal. Also, how could it be otherwise some beautiful viewpoints along the route, where you will stop to take a photo.

During WW1 & WW2 there was also fierce fighting in the Vosges and Alsace, the liberation went a lot more smoothly than in the Ardennes, but given the number of military cemeteries you pass along the way, this already indicates. A visit to the Musee Memorial du Veil and Historial franco-allemand de la Grande Guerre du Hartmannswillerkopf is certainly worthwhile.

I have driven most of this wonderful route, which is why I rate this route with 5 stars. At the top of the Grand Ballon, at 1,425 meters, you have a wide view. The descent consists of spicy hairpin turns.
Hartmannswillerkopf
Ferme Auberge du Haag
Links
Ribeauville, Au Cheval Blanc
Urbès, Moto-Hotel du Col de Bussang
HARTMANNSWILLERKOPF
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Disclaimer
Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.

Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.

Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes
Grand Est
About this region
Grand Est (French: [ɡʁɑ̃t‿ɛst] (listen); Alsatian: Grossa Oschta; Moselle Franconian/Luxembourgish: Grouss Osten;
Rhine Franconian: Groß Oschte; German: Großer Osten [ˈɡʁoːsɐ ˈʔɔstn̩]; English: "Greater East") is an administrative region in Northeastern France. It superseded three former administrative regions, Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine, on 1 January 2016 under the provisional name of Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine (pronounced [alzas ʃɑ̃paɲ aʁdɛn lɔʁɛn]; ACAL or, less commonly, ALCA), as a result of territorial reform which had been passed by the French Parliament in 2014.The region sits astride three water basins (Seine, Meuse and Rhine), spanning an area of 57,433 km2 (22,175 sq mi), the fifth largest in France; it includes two mountain ranges (Vosges and Ardennes). It shares borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland. As of 2017, it had a population of 5,549,586 inhabitants. The prefecture and largest city, by far, is Strasbourg.
The East of France has a rich and diverse culture, being situated at a crossroads between the Latin and Germanic worlds. This history is reflected in the variety of languages spoken there (Alsatian, Champenois, and Lorraine Franconian). Most of today's Grand Est region was considered "Eastern" as early as the 8th century, when it constituted the southern part of the Francian territory of Austrasia. The city of Reims (in Champagne), where Frankish king Clovis I had been baptized in 496 AD, would later play a prominent ceremonial role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the coronation of the kings of France. The Champagne fairs played a significant role in the economy of medieval Europe as well. Alsace and Lorraine thrived in the sphere of influence of the Holy Roman Empire for most of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and subject to competing claims by France and German over the centuries.
The region has distinctive traditions such as the celebration of Saint Nicholas Day, Christmas markets, or traditions involving the Easter hare in Alsace and Lorraine. Alsace-Moselle are furthermore subject to local law for historical reasons. With a long industrial history and strong agriculture and tourism (arts, gastronomy, sightseeing), the East of France is one of the top economic producing regions in the country.
Read more on Wikipedia
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Statistics
75
Amount of RX reviews (Grand Est)
34036
Amount of visitors (Grand Est)
11369
Amount of downloads (Grand Est)
Route Collections in this region
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This MRA route collection contains 25 beautiful motorcycle routes in different parts of France, such as the Ardennes, the Alsace, Vercors, the Drôme, the Ardèche, Cote d'Azure, Gorges du Verdon, the Ariège, the Dordogne and Brittany.

The routes have been carefully created by Bert Loorbach, who is an enthusiastic motorcyclist himself. He lived in France for a year and a half, during which time he devoted himself to mapping the unknown and beautiful back roads of France especially for motorcyclists.

The routes are bundled in the Motortourgids France part 1 of Kosmos publishing house and now also available in MyRouteApp.

I have taken over the routes in MRA and sometimes adjusted them slightly to make them even more interesting for the motorcyclist.

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8 countries in 11 days; The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Belgium. This route collections consists of 10 routes that I have driven with friends in the summer of 2019.

The start is in Geldermalsen Netherlands, the first 7 days you drive through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and a piece of Luxembourg with overnight stays in hotels.

The last three days you stay in Barweiler (D) in the Eifel and you drive two beautiful tours through the Eifel, Luxembourg and parts of the Belgian Ardennes.

There is no highway in the routes, only beautiful provincial and country roads, many beautiful passes with beautiful panoramas.

Be sure to check whether the passes are open before you leave.

These are routes for experienced drivers.

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