History of Locks Route – 2 Banks 3 Bridges

The circuit first follows the canal from the Kembs marina area, recognizable by its lift bridge. Heading north, the route runs alongside the locks of the Rhin-Rhône canal in Niffer, then crosses the open landscapes of Petit-Landau before reaching Hombourg.

Shortly after Petit-Landau, you can see the Saint-Martin Farm, with its chapel and former brickworks, a testament to the industrial activity of the 19th century. A bit further on, in a grove amidst the fields, are the ruins of the Buttenheim Castle (11th-12th century), offering a beautiful viewpoint over the Markgräflerland and the foothills of the Black Forest, with the Hochblauen in the background.

The route then passes near a small restored chapel before reaching Hombourg, then continues through fields to Ottmarsheim and its remarkable Romanesque abbey Saints-Pierre-et-Paul, one of the oldest religious buildings in the region.

The road then traverses several Alsatian villages such as Bantzenheim and Chalampé before crossing the Rhine towards Neuenburg am Rhein. In Germany, the route passes through Steinenstadt and Bad Bellingen, notably the Holy Cross Chapel (Heilig-Kreuz-Kapelle), before joining an ancient Roman road offering stunning views of the Rhine plain and the Black Forest.

As it continues towards Bamlach, Blansingen, and Huttingen, you discover several typical villages and historic buildings, including a church adorned with medieval frescoes. The descent then leads to Istein, with the Veit’s Chapel and the spectacular Isteiner Klotz rock.

Finally, the route reaches Märkt, crosses the dam and the Rhine Island before returning to Kembs and its hydroelectric power station.