Circular Moselle between Villey-le-Sec and Pierre-la-Treiche

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, with the first part in the forest and the section along the caves being particularly interesting (with lots of informative signs). However, at this time of year, the path was very muddy.
The return trip on the left bank is less pleasant as we walk on tarmac (cycle path + road). It would have been better to take the white path on the right bank to return to the starting point along the Moselle. What's more, it's the sunny side, which is rather nice in winter. We'll do it this way next time.

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Date of your route : Apr 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route taken in the opposite direction to the description is preferable for descending the steep, uneven slope of Villey-le-Sec. The left bank is not very interesting, with a tarmac road but little motor vehicle traffic, allowing you to warm up. The right bank offers a very pleasant forest path, which is an alternative route worth exploring.

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Hello
At point 8, the cave of the eccentrics is difficult to find. You have to walk 50 metres through the undergrowth towards the rocks, then return to point 7 and take the small road towards Villey le Sec.
There is another option for the return journey: go back to point 5 and, after the bridge, take the track on the right that runs alongside the Moselle and leads back to the starting point.
The author of the hike

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Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

we just did this hike, which was beautiful and informative up to point 7, with just two minor drawbacks:
-i went as far as point 8, but for me there was nothing there except rubbish that people had thrown away, cans, large pieces of plastic, and what's more, the vegetation made it difficult to access
-after point 8, we weren't sure if we had gone wrong they said to take the road that runs along the Moselle, which we did, but at one point on this path you can't go any further, so we went back up to the road, if it is indeed this road, which is narrow and dangerous, and to top it all off, you can't even walk on the side of the road because it's covered in tall nettles. If I'm wrong, please let me know
otherwise, I recommend the little restaurant halfway along the route if you're hungry!!!!___

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Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

we just did this hike, which was beautiful and informative up to point 7, with just two minor drawbacks:
-i went as far as point 8, but for me there was nothing there except rubbish that people had thrown away, cans, large pieces of plastic, and what's more, the vegetation made it difficult to access
-after point 8, we weren't sure if we had gone wrong they said to take the road that runs along the Moselle, which we did, but at one point on this path you can't go any further, so we went back up to the road, if it is indeed this road, which is narrow and dangerous, and to top it all off, you can't even walk on the side of the road because it's covered in tall nettles. If I'm wrong, please let me know
otherwise, I recommend the little restaurant halfway along the route if you're hungry

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Date of your route : Aug 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike is very pleasant in the forest section, but once you reach Pierre la Treiche, there is an unpleasant section where the hike continues along a country road and another road along the Moselle. Given the traffic passing close by, it is better to avoid these roads and retrace your steps through the forest.

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Date of your route : Mar 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant family hike, except for the end. We followed the instructions, i.e. turned left at the stop sign and went to see the cave of the eccentrics, but the way back was along a road, which wasn't great. In hindsight, I think that just after crossing the bridge, we should have taken the white path (which we saw all along the way on the other bank), as that would have been nicer. and I didn't see a cycle path, unless it was the white path on the other bank/riverbank.

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Date of your route : Oct 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route for an exotic stroll

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Date of your route : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike. No particular difficulty.

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Hello
It's true that the return journey by road isn't easy with children, which is why I created a second hike, "Circular Moselle between Villey le Sec and Pierre la Treiche No. 1021169", with a slightly different route but which passes in front of the caves and the powder magazine.

Enjoy your second hike.

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Date of your route : May 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Alone with four children (aged 8 and 10), this route delighted the children, with the discovery of caves, the song of the cuckoo, the forest...
We enjoyed it so much that it made us forget the rather unpleasant return journey by road (especially with four children...).
I would love to do it again, but with a different route back.

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Date of your route : Nov 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very beautiful hike - it's a shame that about 3 km of it is on the road
despite the explanations, I couldn't find the head at a karstic cave
i did the hike starting from point 5 behind the old station
after the caves, going up to the equestrian centre, the slope is steep
after the equestrian centre, the path is narrow and a little slippery on the descent, especially at this time of year with the leaves
i would gladly do this hike again, climbing up to the Villey le Sec fort, but be careful during hunting season

it took me two hours to complete the route, without going very fast

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I agree with you, the return trip by road is boring, which is why I wrote another hike, a little different but with a return trip along the river before taking the bridge
As for access to the Celtic cave, I'm waiting for some kind soul to clear the undergrowth or find a way in.
As for the mysterious head, you have to climb down the embankment and look for a small rocky cliff. I admit it's not easy to find.
Best regards, the author of the hike

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Date of your route : Nov 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The karstic cave is on the right, in a landslide. To find the mysterious head, the description is really too vague. What does "in the middle of the path" mean? I searched and found nothing. It's a shame, because I'm interested in this mysterious head. The return trip along the left bank is very boring. Since you're in Pierre la Treiche, you might as well climb up to the Chanot fort. When you leave the fort, just take the access road in the other direction and turn right at the second road. This road (forestry boundary) will take you back down towards the road. Going downhill, you will reach the edge of the woods. There, turn left onto the path along the field for 30 metres, then turn right, staying on the path. You will pass a woodpile you will come to a T-junction on a path that you take to the right and follow for about a hundred metres to reach a place called Le Cercueil. There, the path turns at a right angle to the left. You descend into a wood and arrive at a carriageway that you take to the left, which takes you back to the road. Follow this road to the right towards the lock on the Barbante section of the road. This walk is very interesting for its caving aspects and the beautiful rocks. From the Grotte des Excentriques, you need to find another route. I'll get to work on that. It's bushland, so to see the Grotte des Celtes, you'll need a machete to clear a path. Thanks to the author of the walk, it's well worth it

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Date of your route : Sep 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did a very beautiful walk in the opposite direction to complete it and make it a day-long hike. We started at the dam and headed towards the cycle path, then combined it with a walk along the Larot to La Deuille d'Ochey, then La Tranchée de la Deuille to Fort Chanot and Pierre la Treiche for lunch. We returned via the caves (very pleasant) and climbed up to Villey le Sec to explore the fort before heading back down to the dam. About 19 km in total.
The cave route described here alone is worth the detour. It is very beautiful and interesting. The passage through the caves is fascinating.

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