The story of Lispach begins 10,000 years ago, when a glacier carved out a depression in the rock before making a quick getaway. The cavity filled with water, and over the millennia, a peat bog settled in, spreading out and eventually covering a good part of the lake's surface. The result: a soft, marshy ground, vegetation that literally floats on water, and an annual average temperature that doesn’t exceed 5°C, creating a climate similar to southern Iceland. The 20th century added a little twist by building a small dam to power the textile industry, which artificially rejuvenated the peat bog by a few millennia.
What we do there!
The loop around the lake is 1.8 km long, marked by a yellow ring, accessible to everyone (except strollers) and sprinkled with educational signs about the wildlife, flora, and Vosges peat bogs. The marshy ground requires sticking to the designated path (no testing the consistency of the peat, even just a bit!).
our Insta). For the curious ones, a marked trail extends the walk to a former copper mine, just a 10-minute walk away: you can still see greenish traces of copper oxide on the walls of the tunnel.View this post on Instagram
Those who really want to challenge themselves can make their way to the Roche des Vieux Chevaux (894 m), from where you can get a stunning view of Lake Longemer. The elevation change is modest, but the reward is absolutely worth it. Note: swimming is not allowed here, but fishing is permitted (regulated). In winter, the trail is accessible as well!in snowshoes. And if you see a plant that looks like a small red rosette by the water, it's a sundew, a protected carnivorous plant. It's as fascinating as it appears!