Grand Ballon, Mountain summit in Haut-Rhin, France
Grand Ballon is a mountain summit in Haut-Rhin that reaches 1,424 meters above sea level and stands as the highest peak of the Vosges range. The mountain features rounded slopes and numerous walking paths that remain accessible throughout the year.
The summit holds a memorial for the Chasseurs Alpins, French mountain troops who defended this strategic location during World War I. This presence reflects the mountain's importance as a site of military conflict during early twentieth-century warfare.
The summit sits within the Regional Natural Park of the Ballons des Vosges, where visitors find themselves surrounded by Alsatian mountain traditions and local food culture. The landscape draws hikers who use the marked paths as places for outdoor connection and rest.
Multiple marked walking trails reach the summit from different starting points, with winter access more reliable via the Willer sur Thur or Goldbach routes. Visitors should prepare for changing weather and bring sturdy shoes and protective clothing.
The summit houses a radar station designed by architect Claude Vasconi in 1997 that monitors aviation traffic. The structure also includes an orientation table that lets visitors identify the surrounding peaks.
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