LAURENT FRANCOIS

Pass by the summit of Butte de Mousson, with its castle ruins, and Butte de Xon, with its trenches dating from the First World War.

A walk through the rolling countryside and woods on the edge of the Saintois region, passing through the villages of Benney, Crévechamps and Saint-Remimont. Author’s note, 2 January 2020: Access to this private woodland is permitted subject to certain conditions. See practical information below

Discover the castles of the Saintois region in Haroué and Tantonville, the moulded lintels in the villages, the churches and the 360° views.

Starting from the Isola 2000 resort, hike towards the Lausfer lakes and, following the French-Italian border, return via the Col de la Lombarde.

A walk through the forest, passing through the beautiful villages of Saint-Martin-de-Pallières, Esparron, Artigues and Ubac. Return to the valley via an old railway line.

A circular walk between La Grande Bastide and the village of L'Ubac, on the outskirts of the town of Rians, passing by its church. Moderator's warning on 08/02/2021: Changes to the starting point of the hike; see notices.

From Gréoux-les-Bains to Saint-Martin-de-Brômes via the plateau for views of the mountains, and back via the viewpoint for views of Gréoux-les-Bains and the Esparron-de-Verdon Lake dam.

This circular walk takes you up to La Verdiére via the road for the views, and back through the woods for peace and quiet.

From Gréoux-les-Bains to Vinon-sur-Verdon, a circular walk with a section along the ridges offering views of the Durance and Verdon valleys through gaps in the forest, a walk through the old village of Vinon-sur-Verdon and a return journey through the Verdon Valley.

Start from Messein and return via the village of Méréville. A circular route with easy conditions, mostly on cycle paths.

Start between the canal and the Moselle, then follow the right bank to the Maron. Return along the left bank via Sexey-aux-Forges and Pont-Saint-Vincent. Discover how iron ore was transported from the old mines at Sexey-aux-Forges.

Walk along the circular loops of the Moselle between Villey-le-Sec and Pierre-la-Treiche or the 'cave route'. Start at the Villey-le-Sec dam car park, hike through the woods of Villey-le-Sec and along the old railway line to see the caves. Return on flat ground via the cycle path.

Start at the L’Orée du Bois housing estate, walk a short distance along the diversion canal, then take a short climb towards the Bois des Convers for the view of Nancy, and descend into Laneuveville-devant-Nancy to reach the Marne-Rhine Canal. Return via the cycle path along the diversion canal.

Follow the circular course of the Moselle between Maron and Villey-le-Sec. Starting from Maron, at the car park by the old station, the route takes you through the Maron Forest and the Gondreville Forest, then down towards the Moselle via the Bois L’Évêque. The paths are in good condition and, at times, you might feel as though you’re in the Hautes Vosges. Cross the Moselle via the dam and the large-capacity lock. Return on flat ground via the cycle path along the Moselle.

Explore the Moselle circular loops between Pierre-la-Treiche and Toul. Starting from the car park at Pierre-la-Treiche, head towards Chaudeney along a small path through the woods on the right bank of the Moselle. Visit the Chaudeney dam and the two locks at Toul. Return along the narrow-gauge canal, then via the hamlet of Gare-le-Cou and the Château de la Rochotte.

Follow the circular course of the Moselle between Dommartin-lès-Toul and Gondreville. Visit the Dommartin redoubt and the Chaudeney battery. Walk through the old village of Gondreville, passing the Maison des Dîmes and along a short stretch of a small road to reach the Marne–Rhine Canal. Return to the car park along the canal.

Explore the circular bends of the Moselle between Gondreville and Villey-Saint-Etienne, passing through: - the old Marne–Rhine Canal, - part of the fortifications at Villet-Saint-Etienne: Shelter No. 1, the Mordant Battery, the Bas du Chêne fortification and the East Vieux Canton fortification, - a wayside shrine with an orientation board above Villey-Saint-Etienne, - the bridges over the Terrouin, Return along the Moselle, the wide-gauge canal and the Fontenoy lock.

Explore the circular loops of the Moselle between Villey-le-Sec and Pierre-la-Treiche, passing by old military structures and caves. From the car park at the Villey-le-Sec dam, hike through the woods of Villey-le-Sec and Pierre-la-Treiche to discover the military structures, then return along the old railway line and the Moselle to visit the caves.

A circular walk starting from La Castellane, above Saint-Paul-lès-Durance. Descent towards the village alongside the Abeou stream, passing the orientation table for views of the village and the Durance valley. Climb up into the mountains along a track. On the plateau, walk through the vineyards and along a road lined with pruned trees, taking a detour to a memorial stone. Descend along a path towards the Mirabeau Bridge. At the bridge, enjoy the view of the piers of the old bridge, the River Durance and the Sainte-Madeleine Chapel.

This circular walk, starting from the Mirabeau Bridge, takes in: - the Chapel of Sainte-Madeleine, - the Chapel of the Heath and its statue of the Virgin Mary, - Mirabeau with its fountain, church and castle, - a path overlooking the village of Beaumont-en-Pertuis, - the Chapel of Sainte-Croix and its viewpoints.

A circular walk between Beaumont-de-Pertuis and La Bastide-des-Jourdans, winding through forests and vineyards. Make the most of it by visiting these two beautiful villages with their chapels, castle and fountains.

A circular walk starting from La Bastide-des-Jourdans towards Vitrolles-en-Lubéron, mostly through woodland. A stroll through the pretty village of Vitrolles-en-Lubéron and, on the way back, views of the surroundings of La Bastide-des-Jourdans.

This double circular starting from Verdon allows you to discover: - Notre Dame des Œufs, - the small port along Lake Esparron, It continues with a walk along the old canal with a passage over the rocks. Then a small beach and a path along the lake shore to the entrance to the lower Verdon Gorge. The return journey is through the mountains with distant views of the mountains.

A circular route between Quinson and Lac d'Artignosc, passing on both sides of the Verdon. Walk along tracks and small paths with views of the Verdon at various points and of the villages of Quinson and Artignosc. Return via the Baume Bonne cave and the view of the Quinson dam.

A circular route through the hills above Gréoux-les-Bains towards Rousset Castle, passing through the Verdon valley, the woods, the vineyards and Rousset Castle. Return via more vineyards and woods, Gréoux-les-Bains Castle and the town centre.

A walk between Boussenois and Rivière-les-Fosses via La Montagne and the woods of Grand Maisonnais

A circular route between Les Orres 1850 and the Pic du Boussolenc via the Terre Rouge valley, suitable for experienced hikers.

Starting from Les Orres 1850 resort, a lovely circular route that passes by the orientation table at 2,769 m and Lake Sainte-Marguerite.

On the Moselle circular route, along the Meurthe between Jarville-la-Malgrange and Malzéville. A hike mainly on cycle paths or specially designed trails to discover the meanders of the tranquil Meurthe with its birds, passing by the Old Mills of Nancy and the historic monument "La Douera" in Malzéville.

The circular bends in the Moselle as you cycle along the Meurthe cycle paths between Malzéville and Bouxières-aux-Dames.

A circular walk starting from the Orée du Bois housing estate in Fléville-devant-Nancy, heading to the hamlet of Clos Cardinal via the connecting canal, the Roman bridge and the hamlet of Gerardcourt, and returning via the plain.

Setting off from Champigneulles, a circular route that follows the Meurthe for its final few kilometres to see where the Moselle and the Meurthe meet at Frouard. Return via the Marne–Rhine Canal, passing by the beautiful graffiti under the Bow String Bridge at Frouard.

A circular route starting from Liverdun, passing through the communal woods of La Fourasse, then in front of Château de la Flie, continuing along the Moselle to Aingeray Lock No. 5. Crossing the Moselle and returning via a cycle path along the river.

A circular route to see both sides of Gréoux-les-Bains – the hills and the plain – passing through the mountains to reach Notre-Dame des Œufs. Further on, reach the viewpoint at Pas du Verré and the cross at Vallée Obscure. For the return journey, head back via the plain and the Aurabelles equestrian centre.

A circular walk between Manosque and Gréoux-les-Bains, passing through the lavender fields with views of the mountains, the forest, the derelict Grand Devançon building overlooking Manosque, and Château Rousset.

A walk in the hills above Gréoux-les-Bains, starting from Château Laval, along signposted paths through the woods and lavender fields.

A circular walk to visit the villages in the north of the Saintois region: Voinémont, Benney and Lemainville, passing through the Benney forest, the plain between Benney and Lemainville and following the Madon river on the return journey.

A circular walk starting from the road between Gréoux-les-Bains and Esparron-de-Verdon, a stretch through the heath, a visit to the village of Esparron-de-Verdon and a return route through the mountains.

A circular route between Saint-Martin-de-Brômes, passing by the Clock Tower and the church, then along the Chemin de la Crête de Saint-Pierre, with views of the mountains behind Moustiers, a descent along a lovely path towards Allemagne-en-Provence, passing by the Château de Castellane, and back down to the plain via the cycle path.

Starting from Flavigny-sur-Moselle, the route follows the Canal de l’Est, climbs through the woods towards Burthécourt-aux-Chênes, crosses the plain to reach Azelot and the railway line, then returns through the woods

A double circular route through the Madon valley to visit the villages of Frolois, Pierreville, Autrey-sur-Madon and Pulligny.

A hike around the village of Richardménil, passing through the Bois Leleau, the Bois Impérial, the Tombouctou plateau with a view of Ludres and Nancy, a visit to the Saint Georges Church before returning via the Canal des Vosges.

Walk around the village of Flavigny-sur-Moselle, passing through the village, along the Canal de l'Est and through the Bois de Benney.

A tour of the villages of the Saintois region, in the canton of Vézelise. A walk across the plains with scenic views. Places of interest: chapels, wayside crosses, churches, wash houses

A circular walk starting from Boussenois and heading to Vernois through the woods.

From Boussenois, head towards Foncegrive, partly through the woods; pass through Foncegrive and continue to Selongey, also via a small woodland path; pass through Selongey and head back up via the Sainte-Anne Chapel to return to Boussenois.

A circular route around Fléville starting from L’Orée du Bois, towards Parc d’Embanie, up to the heights of Fond de Chanot with views of Ludres and Fléville, and a return via the Hauts de Fléville and the connecting canal.

The Battle of the Grand Couronné in September 1914 in the Bois de Champenoux. On the lookout for shell holes and trenches at the edge of the woods.A walk partly along paths and partly off-track through the heart of the forest; best undertaken with a GPS or a good sense of direction.This walk can be complemented by exploring other remains from the Battle of the Grand Couronné.

Starting from Houdemont, head towards the Chapelle des Pauvres and its orientation table, passing through the Bois Le Duc. Walk through the paths and viewpoint of the Parc de Brabois and take a tour of the Jardin du Montet with its chapel. Then return via the orientation table above the cemetery, descend into the old village and walk through the gardens of Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy. Return to Houdemont via the Château de la Ronchère.

Starting from Méréville, a circular walk to see the does in the Bois du Moulin woods, a short stroll along the Madon before it joins the Moselle. A stretch beneath Fort Pelissier with views over the Madon valley and the hillsides of Messein and Ludres On Rue de la Gare in Bainville-sur-Madon, a stop at the Saint-Martin Fountain. Return along the Madon before the climb up to Frolois and back to Méréville.