Circular route starting from Vigneulles

A circular, rural loop with beautiful views and a stop at the Groupe Lorraine 42 monument.
Pass by the mirabelle plum orchards.

Details

3774010
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 180 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 173 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 350 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 227 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Vigneulles (54360)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.562913° / E 6.336233°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3416E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the multi-sports ground at the entrance to Vigneulles.

(S/E) Walk up Grande Rue to Place du Groupe Lorraine 42.

(1) Turn right onto the communal path towards Saffais. Pass in front of the Town Hall, Place Vieille Église, and continue following the red circle. Pass along the cemetery to begin an uphill climb. Continue straight ahead.
At the top, you will come to a road. Continue straight ahead. On the uphill stretch, in the right-hand bend, leave the road and continue uphill, still following the red circle markings. Reach the top of the hill at the Monument Groupe Lorraine 42.

(2) Continue along the slightly downhill road to reach a stop sign at the junction with the D116. Cross it and continue straight ahead on a path. Ignore the first path on the left, which is a possible shortcut to Saffais. Reach a new crossroads at the Petit Rhône stream.

(3) Turn left, following the sign for Saffais marked with a yellow horse, and continue along this path which runs alongside the pond. After the hamlet of Le Poncey, you will reach a crossroads just before the electricity poles.

(4) Follow the sign for Saffais to begin a fairly long climb up Chemin de Rosat and arrive at the village of Saffais. At the end of the road, turn left onto Route de Ferrières to reach the village centre at the church.

(5) Follow Rue François de Neufchâteau to the small roundabout. Turn right, following the blue diamond and yellow disc markings. Take the first path on the right towards the forest and continue straight ahead. You will reach the edge of the forest.

(6) Turn left and continue. At the end of thesecond clearing, walk along the edge of the woods until you find a forest path entrance on the right. Continue along this path, which immediately widens and descends straight towards the village of Barbonville.

(7) Turn left to go up Rue de la Grande Ruelle. At the top, turn left onto Route de Saffais and continue straight ahead to find a path. You will reach the sign for Église Saint-Blaise.

(8) Turn right and continue along the path until you reach the road. Turn right and head back down to the village of Vigneulles at the crossroads you passed on the way there.

(1) Turn right and retrace your steps to quickly return to the car park near the multi-sports ground at the entrance to Vigneulles (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 227 m - Vigneulles multi-sports ground car park
  2. 1 : km 0.39 - alt. 236 m - Place Groupe Lorraine 42
  3. 2 : km 1.17 - alt. 292 m - Groupe Lorraine 42 (GL42) Monument
  4. 3 : km 2.55 - alt. 256 m - The Petit Rhône
  5. 4 : km 3.43 - alt. 272 m - Le Poncey crossroads
  6. 5 : km 4.83 - alt. 350 m - Saffais
  7. 6 : km 6.19 - alt. 328 m - Forest edge
  8. 7 : km 7.78 - alt. 237 m - Barbonville
  9. 8 : km 9.26 - alt. 281 m - Saint-Blaise Church sign
  10. S/E : km 10.81 - alt. 227 m - Vigneulles multi-sports ground car park

Worth a visit

(2) Monument Groupe Lorraine 42 (GL42) Take the time to visit the monument. There are some beautiful views of the countryside and, on a clear day, the Vosges mountains.
(5) Saffais Church: take a few minutes to enter the cemetery and admire the reconstruction of the church gate.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
jean54110
jean54110

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Take care when setting off from the village; make sure you turn right at the church, otherwise it’s a lovely walk – best done in dry weather

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User 15832779

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As in the previous review, we found ourselves crossing cornfields, lush after the rain and the passage of silage harvesters, after Gellenoncourt. Furthermore, we couldn't find the short detour to Buissoncourt. Perhaps the path had also been taken over by a farmer?
Otherwise, it was a pleasant walk with no elevation gain. We will try others.

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strong54
strong54

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, with little shade, best avoided on very hot days.

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patptout
patptout

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with lovely scenery. Best done in spring when the fruit trees are in bloom.
Starting at the approved multisport ground, it allows for a short warm-up before the cemetery hill.

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Jean-Luc54
Jean-Luc54

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We started the route from the car park at Vigneulles cemetery, which seemed the most appropriate place.
Despite the trails and paths being very muddy at this time of year, we were able to see beautiful landscapes and an impressive number of mirabelle plum trees. We were interested in the historical aspect of the GL42 monument and then the village of Saffais.
A pleasant walk, but perhaps best avoided in the height of summer as there is little shade.

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domrando54
domrando54

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

.

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Gdupo54
Gdupo54

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice route, but quite muddy in wet weather.

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Christecol
Christecol

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little hike alternating between fields and forests. Personally, in hindsight, it would have been easier to park a little below the cemetery, where there is a car park for the start of the marked trails.
At the moment, it's quite muddy.

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