Petit Ballon, Mountain summit in Haut-Rhin, France.
Petit Ballon is a mountain summit reaching 1272 meters in the Vosges, situated in the Alsace region. The peak overlooks the Munster Valley and the Alsatian Plain, with farmland and mountain shelters dotting the surrounding slopes.
Monks from Munster monastery began cheese production here in the 7th century as part of their monastic work. This craft has continued unbroken through the centuries and shaped the farm-inns that still operate in the valleys below.
The farm-inns around the summit showcase local cheese-making as part of daily life, with artisanal products reflecting centuries-old skills. Visitors can taste how regional food traditions remain woven into the landscape and the people who live there.
A mountain shelter sits about 500 meters below the summit and provides protection from the elements. A parking area is located further down the slope, with trails leading up from multiple starting points.
This peak belongs to the Belchen system, a group of mountains possibly linked to an ancient Celtic solar calendar. The alignment suggests how early cultures used the landscape to track the sun throughout the year.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
