BR39 The valley of the Sauer and its spa resorts

The cycle tour opens up in spa country. An undulating road links the spas of Niederbronn-les-Bains and Morsbronn-les-Bains. Niederbronn-les-Bains is a renowned spa town, already frequented by the Romans. Niederbronn-les-Bains boasts the only casino in northern Alsace, as well as an interesting archaeology museum. The tour then follows the Sauer Valley cycle route, built on the former Maginot railroad line and leading to Lembach. Beyond Lembach, the silhouettes of castle ruins tower over the road. There are more than a dozen within a ten-kilometer radius, including Fleckenstein castle, built in the 12th century on a sandstone bar. The route then crosses the Franco-German border into Dahner Felsenland, with its strangely shaped sandstone formations, via Hirschthal and Schönau. The route then returns to French territory, taking in the Wineckerthal and Jaegerthal valleys before reaching Niederbronn-les-Bains. The end of the route is marked by the first De Dietrich forges, now located in Niederbronn-les-Bains.