Lac Blanc et le rocher Hans

Orbey

Nestling at 1,055 m at the foot of the Rocher Hans, in the upper valley of the Weiss, the Lac Blanc above Orbey is one of the loveliest glacial lakes in the Vosges, with its 29 hectares and its 72 m of depth. An Alsatian legend tells that it was once the domain of Lord Anshelm, the pitiless master of the castle of Plixbourg, who "laid waste the countryside" with his cruelty despite the prayers of his wife Ita. Heaven at last took its revenge: a plague ravaged the region, killing men, beasts and harvests, and the waters of the lake, until then so pure, took on a sinister hue. A hermit consulted by the villagers revealed that only the sacrifice of a child to the lake could appease the divine anger, but no mother would agree to such an act. Heavenly justice then took matters into its own hands: an eagle flying over the castle seized Anshelm's own son and let him fall into the waters. The moment the child touched them, the curse ceased instantly, the plague vanished and the lake regained its clarity. Today crossed by a hiking trail and overlooked by a ski resort, the Lac Blanc remains an emblematic spot for a walk in the Vosges massif, somewhere between a cautionary legend and grandiose scenery.

Getting there : From Orbey, follow the road to the Col du Bonhomme then the D48 to the Lac Blanc car park; adjoining ski resort in winter.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound