Ballon d Alsace

Ballon d'Alsace launches from 1,230 m in the Vosges mountains of eastern France, a well-developed site with a restaurant, hotel, public toilets and snack/souvenir stalls right at the takeoff area — more amenity-rich than most mountain launches. The main takeoff faces northwest, and both the northwest and northeast takeoffs are large and easy to use, which makes this a comfortable site to fly. Getting there is simple: from Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle, just follow the signs up to the summit. Landing at the top is easy, but conditions can shift fast: wind direction near the northeast takeoff can change within seconds, so recheck it right before you land, and watch for cables along the street below (now marked after a past incident). A separate landing zone called Seven, between two lakes, serves the easterly approach, though the field itself is tucked behind a sawmill and can be tricky to find by car.

Launch & conditions

The main takeoff faces northwest; both the NW and NE takeoffs are large and easy to use.

Getting there & local rules

From Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle, follow the signs up to the summit (Ballon d'Alsace).

Local rules & hazards

Airspace ceiling above this site varies with the day: around 3,425 m on weekends, but only 1,890–2,450 m on weekdays — check current restricted-airspace status for the Vosges before flying XC. On the northeast takeoff, watch for a fast loss of altitude if a thermal on the far side of the valley bursts.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Ballon d Alsace, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Ballon d Alsace with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.