The Donon is a beautiful mountain in Alsace, France. The hike there is difficult but incredibly rewarding once you get to the top and get to admire the beautiful views. The cherry on top of the cake: a temple on top of the mountain.

Why should you go there?

Whether you’re craving a challenging hike, on the lookout for beautiful views from a mountaintop, or are a history buff… this is the place for you.

The hike

This is the perfect mix of challenging and fun, whether you’re looking for some exercise or just love hiking. The paths will definitely make you break a sweat, and you’ll find some true variety as you walk in the forests, climb up ancient stairs, and admire buildings that have been there for centuries.

The view

The view is simply unbelievable. I’ll let the pictures do the talking:

The history

The mountain was first inhabited during the Neolithical period, before being used as a temporary shelter during the Iron Age. Later on the Celts would start using it as a place of worship. This tradition was continued by the Romans between the 1st and 3rd centuries A.D, who developed the site and built several pillars and other structures.. After the Roman Empire fell, the place was left untouched for centuries. It wasn’t until Benedictine monks stumbled upon the summit in the late 17th century that the Donon became the center of archeological attention. Excavations have been conducted since the late 18th century, and in 1869 the Donon Temple was built on the platform at the top of the summit.

The Donon’s history doesn’t stop there, though. It was bombed during the First World War, which revealed more hidden artifacts from the past. This made archeologists start digging again. The First World War also momentarily gave the Donon to Germany, as soldiers from behind the border occupied it after just two weeks of war.

All this history has left its mark on the Donon, and when you visit you’ll see that in person!

How to get to the Donon

The Donon is about an hour’s drive away from Strasbourg.

There are a bunch of different, related Google Maps Location Pins. The one simply called “Le Donon” is the correct one. I recommend entering “Parking du Sentier des Bunkers” in your GPS and leaving your car there.

When to go to the Donon

First, when NOT to go: Avoid weekends, especially Sundays from 10AM to sunset. The trails will be crowded and you won’t find a parking spot anywhere. If possible try to also avoid school vacations and public holidays (especially weekends when school’s off).

If you go anytime during the week, you should find parking spots easily and the trail will be generally calm. Going in the summer will be a nice escape from the city’s heat, and during fall you’ll be blown away by the fall colors. There is often snow during winters, so you might see some beautiful snow-covered landscapes. If you’re planning on going in winter, I would recommend being super careful as the ground might be slippery and preparing yourself mentally that there might not be snow. Climate change, what can I say.

Finally, if you go in the spring you will see nature flourish again after winter – you’ll be in for some beautiful views accompanied by crisp weather. Make sure to wear layers so you can take them off and put them back on easily!

What to expect

Parking your car

I recommend parking your car in one of the two parkings: Parking Col du Donon or Parking du Sentier des Bunkers. From there you’ll need to follow the road until you get to where the hike starts. I recommend using Google Maps here if you’re not sure.

The hike

The hike has something for everyone. For some parts of the hike you’ll just have to walk on the forest floor, at other parts you’ll climb up some pretty steep slopes, and you will even find yourself walking on ancient ruins!

Remember to take water breaks, and stop whenever you feel like you need a breather. We saw some families with children, and I think if you have adventurous kids this is a great hike for the whole family. Little legs can’t walk very fast so it might take you at least an hour and a half to two hours to get to the top.

What to bring

• Hiking Shoes. I wouldn’t do this hike in sneakers. I went there in October and the ground can be very slippery if it has just rained or if there are leaves on the ground.
• Water. The way up takes about an hour, and you will definitely get thirsty.
• Food. I don’t like hiking on a full stomach, and if you don’t either you will probably get hungry along the way. If you know you have a tendency to get hangry or tired, remember to pack some snacks.
• Appropriate clothing. If you’re going in the summer, bring a hat. In the winter, bring a coat. Common sense. The top also gets unbelievably windy, so make sure to prepare for that.

Are you planning a trip to the Donon? Do you have any additional questions? Tell me in the comments!

You can find more travel guides here and more posts about France here!