The Haguenau Forest - Europe's Largest Lowland Forest

A Green Giant at the Heart of Northern Alsace

The Haguenau Forest spans nearly 13,000 hectares between the town of Haguenau and the German border, making it the largest lowland forest in Western Europe. This considerable area, equivalent to more than 18,000 football pitches, testifies to exceptional preservation in the face of urbanisation and intensive agriculture that have eroded most of the continent's other great forests.

The Haguenau Forest is today classified as state forest, managed by the National Forestry Office, and benefits from several levels of environmental protection, including Natura 2000 zones that testify to its exceptional ecological richness.

A Thousand-Year History - From the Celts to the Merovingian Kings

The history of the Haguenau Forest dates back to very ancient times. Traces of Celtic and Gallo-Roman occupation have been found in the massif. But it was under the Merovingian and Carolingian kings, from the 7th century, that the forest acquired particular importance, becoming a prized royal hunting ground.

In the Middle Ages, the Haguenau Forest became the personal property of the Holy Roman Emperors. Frederick Barbarossa, who had an imperial castle built in Haguenau in the 12th century, particularly appreciated this forest for his hunting parties.

The Fairy Stone - a Mystery-Laden Megalith

At the heart of the forest stands one of the most fascinating sites of Alsatian heritage: the Fairy Stone, a Neolithic megalith several thousand years old. This dolmen, one of the few preserved megalithic remains in Alsace, testifies to human occupation of the region well before the Celts and Romans.

As is often the case with megaliths, the Fairy Stone has generated a whole host of popular legends. According to oral tradition collected in the 19th century, fairies gathered around the stone on full moon nights to dance and weave spells.

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Exceptional Biodiversity

The Haguenau Forest is home to remarkable biodiversity, a direct consequence of its immense area and the diversity of its habitats. The massif blends oak groves, beech forests, pine forests and wetlands, creating a mosaic of ecosystems.

In terms of fauna, the forest hosts a significant population of deer, roe deer and wild boar, but also more discreet species such as the wildcat. Several rare bat species also nest there. The stork, Alsace's unmissable emblem, also frequents the edges and clearings of the Haguenau Forest.

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Haguenau Forest Honey - an Exceptional Beekeeping Terroir

The botanical richness of the Haguenau Forest makes it a remarkable beekeeping terroir. Several local beekeepers place their hives there to take advantage of the floral diversity of the undergrowth - heather, chestnut trees, lime trees - which produces honeys with varied and complex aromatic profiles. Forest honey, darker and more robust than classic flower honeys, is particularly sought after by lovers of authentic regional products.

Hiking in the Haguenau Forest - Practical Tips

• Family trails: several short loops (3-6 km) from Haguenau
• The Fairy Stone trail: emblematic route leading to the megalith
• Cycle paths: numerous forest tracks accessible by bicycle
• Nature trails: several thematic paths marked by the National Forestry Office
• Best season: spring for the undergrowth blooms, autumn for the foliage colours and the deer rutting season

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