Fête du Ballon d'Alsace

The Fête du Ballon d'Alsace: the artisanal festival at the roof of the Southern Vosges

The Ballon d'Alsace reaches an altitude of 1,247 meters and is the highest point of the Territoire de Belfort department, as well as one of the major peaks of the Southern Vosges. This emblematic summit, marking the border between the Territoire de Belfort (commune of Lepuix, 90200), the Haut-Rhin (Alsace), and the Vosges, offers an exceptional panorama of the entire Vosges massif, the Alsace plain, the Black Forest, and, on clear days, the Alps.

Each summer, this mythical summit hosts a grand artisanal festival celebrating the forest and artisanal traditions of the Vosges massif. The event is organized under the auspices of the Ballon d'Alsace tourist site and local associations of the Southern Vosges.

The program: crafts and forest traditions at 1,247 meters

The Fête du Ballon d'Alsace offers a unique program that highlights the traditional trades of the Vosges massif:

• Forestry demonstrations: old-fashioned plank sawing, horse-drawn logging, and the impressive schlittage — the descent of logs on wooden sleds, an ancestral technique of Vosges lumberjacks
• Over 35 artisans: potters, woodturners, embroiderers, weavers, sculptors, wooden toy makers, producers of honey and Vosges cheeses
• Concerts: performances by the Cors de la Haute-Thur (traditional Alpine instruments) and accordion concerts in the mountain tradition
• Local products: tasting of Munster cheese, blueberries, raspberries, honey, and Vosges liqueurs
• Guided hikes: themed walks starting from the summit with nature guides
• Ballon Train: panoramic transport from the villages to access the summit

A summit at the crossroads of three regions

The Ballon d'Alsace is a unique meeting point for the cultures of the Vosges, Alsace, and Franche-Comté. The Virgin Mary statue erected at the summit in 1862, commemorative steles, and border markers testify to the historical and symbolic importance of this place. The artisanal festival takes advantage of this crossroads to feature artisans and products from the three slopes of the massif.

The fauna and flora of Ballon d'Alsace

The summit is surrounded by protected natural areas, including peat bogs and high-altitude meadows characteristic of the Vosges Ballons. The presence of deer, roe deer, and mountain birds in the surrounding forest enriches the experience for visitors who take the trails starting from the summit.

An unmissable summer festival for the whole family

The Fête du Ballon d'Alsace is one of the most popular events in the Territoire de Belfort and the Vosges massif. It attracts thousands of visitors each year, including families, hikers, and lovers of artisanal traditions, for an exceptional day between sky and forest at the meeting point of the Vosges, Alsace, and Franche-Comté.