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France

Alsace

Thann-Gebweiler

Lautenbachzell

Lac du Ballon

Discover

Places to see

Lakes

France

Alsace

Thann-Gebweiler

Lautenbachzell

Lac du Ballon

Recommended by 464 hikers out of 469

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Location: Lautenbachzell, Thann-Gebweiler, Alsace, France

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Best Hikes to Lac du Ballon

4.7

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1,631

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1. Grand Ballon – 1,424 metres (4,672 ft): highest point in the Vosges mountains

8.89km

03:21

470m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Intermediate

4.7

(16)

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2. Le lac du Ballon — loop from Hoefen in the Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges

11.5km

03:53

570m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Intermediate

4.8

(50)

260

hikers

3. Grand Ballon – Lac du Ballon loop from Rimbach-près-Guebwiller

15.6km

05:24

700m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Tips

Nicolas Vergnaud

December 19, 2022

The Lac du Ballon owes its name to the summit at the foot of which it is located, the Grand Ballon, the highest point in the Vosges.

Embedded in a glacial cirque, it offers a setting of all splendor, the reflections of the sun making its surface shimmer in an alternation of shadow and light created by the rich surrounding vegetation.

Although natural, it is forbidden to bathe there because it is used to supply water to the valley.

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Moonbeam🌜

September 6, 2022

The Lac du Ballon (German Belchensee) is a reservoir in a side valley of the Florival in the Vosges, at the foot of the Grand Ballon. Its outflow flows into the Lauch after 3.9 km.

The small cirque lake was enlarged as early as the 16th century by raising it on the moraine.

In 1699 Vauban had the dam built, and the lake now supplied water for canals during the construction of the Neuf-Brisach Fortress. The remains of the dam were washed away by floods in 1740 and 1778.

In 1869, manufacturers from the Lauchtal built a tunnel under the lake bed as a drain in order to increase the usable volume.

By 1955 the bedrock had leaked.

1966 to 1968 the lake was sealed, the dam raised again, with a flood drain on the left bank. The outlet tunnel was filled, and a new bottom outlet with a service tower was built. 1999-2000 the dam and the lake shore were bricked up and the dam crest was concreted.

The lake, together with the smaller Lauchsee, serves as a drinking water reservoir and flood retention basin for the Lauchtal and the town of Guebwiller.

Source: Wikipedia

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JR on Tour

June 27, 2023

Beautiful mountain lake surrounded by forest.. a break in the cool water is worth it

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Details

Informations

Elevation 1,000 m

Alerts

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges

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Thursday 18 September

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Location: Lautenbachzell, Thann-Gebweiler, Alsace, France

Lac du Ballon

1. Grand Ballon – 1,424 metres (4,672 ft): highest point in the Vosges mountains

2. Le lac du Ballon — loop from Hoefen in the Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges

3. Grand Ballon – Lac du Ballon loop from Rimbach-près-Guebwiller

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