Circular walk starting from Hoéville towards the Bois de Raon and the Forêt de Ransey

Starting point: Saint-Nicolas Church, Grande Rue, Hoéville. Parking available near the church.

(S/E) Facing the church entrance, turn left onto the Grande Rue, passing on the left-hand side of the church. On leaving the village, at the bend, take the Route de Bezange on the right and head up towards the orientation table.

(1) After circling the orientation table, continue along the small road towards Sornéville. Walk until you reach a left-hand bend in the road at a junction with a stony track.

(2) Turn right onto this track. Go round the barrier to keep cars out. Walk past the forester’s cottage and, at the small clearing, continue straight on down the grassy track. At the bottom, take the 90° right-hand bend. Walk past a small stone marker.

(3) To the left and right are WWI remains, including trenches and bunkers. Continue along the grassy track. Shortly after leaving the forest, you’ll come to a small road.

(4) Follow it to the left. It curves widely to the right and then, in the left-hand bend that follows, comes to a junction.

(5) Take the road on the right, passing the Maquis de Ranzey memorial. At the edge of the woodland, the road turns into a track; follow it until you reach a junction with another track.

(6) Turn left towards the Ranzey farm. The stony track ends at a small clearing.

(7) Take the grassy track at a 90° right turn, walk for about thirty metres and, at the X-junction, turn left, then just before the ditch, take the track on the right. At both these bends, left and right, there are remnants from the First World War: trenches.
Continue to the end of the track.

(8) Turn right onto the Tranchée de Ranzey and carry on straight ahead until you reach a large crossroads.

(9) Leave the Tranchée de Ranzy, which continues straight on, and take the grassy track on the left for about 200 m.

(10) At the signpost, take the small path on the right, towards Hoéville. Walk past the two springs and the shelter until you reach another signpost.

(11) Take the small path leading uphill to the right to see the rock shelter, then retrace your steps.

(11) Head right for a few dozen metres until you come to another signpost.

(12) Take the path climbing at 120° to the right to see the rock shelter, then retrace your steps – be careful not to take the path with the handrails.

(12) Return to the path until you reach a T-junction.

(13) Continue left along the narrow path and stay on it until you reach another T-junction (IGN elevation 246).

(14) Continue to the right along the ascending path. You’ll reach a very sharp bend at the top of the hill, marked by a cairn.

(15) Take the small path on the left. After about 250 m, you’ll see another signpost.

(16) Turn slightly left towards Roche des Fées, go downhill then follow the rocks, go back uphill and rejoin the path to continue left for a few metres.

(17) Turn onto the first path leading uphill to the right, continue along the edge of the woods, and join a stony track.

(18) Continue to the left for about fifty metres and turn 90° to the right. Join the D84 and turn right towards the village to reach the church (S/E).

The village of Hoéville.

The Hoéville orientation table with a 360° panoramic view.

Remains from the First World War: shelters and trenches.

The memorial to the Ransey Maquis from the period 1942–1945, with its information panel.

Walk past the Roche aux Fées.