Metzeral

Metzeral is a village in the Haut-Rhin department, tucked at the head of the Munster valley in Alsace, within the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park. Surrounded by forests and Vosges peaks such as the Hohneck, the village serves as a popular starting point for walking routes, particularly towards the Fischboedle and Schiessrothried lakes, both reachable on foot from the village centre. The River Fecht runs through the area, fed by streams flowing down from the surrounding ridges. In winter, the nearby heights are suited to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, while summer favours hiking and mountain biking. The region retains several First World War memorial sites linked to the fighting that took place in the Vosges massif. Gastronomically, the Munster valley is known for producing Munster cheese, a soft cheese matured locally. Metzeral thus offers a typical rural, mountainous setting within the upper Munster valley, valued for its tranquillity, unspoilt natural surroundings and direct access to Vosges trails, well away from the busier Alsatian tourist resorts.