Circular forest loop north of Fresse-sur-Moselle

Park in the car park at the church in Fresse-sur-Moselle.

(S/E) Head north, follow Rue du Général de Gaulle and leave the church on your left (marked with Red Triangle and Blue Triangle). At the church’s west end, turn right and, at the fork immediately ahead, keep right onto Chemin du Moulin. At the next junction, go straight on and then turn left towards the paragliding area.

(1) At the junction, follow the Blue Triangle markings to the right. Soon turn left, then climb towards the Tête du Couteau, keeping a general eastward bearing. Turn left, above a shelter, and follow the path, which is grassy at first then becomes stony. Climb up, passing by the Tête du Couteau and then the Rochers du Sabbat (a). Continue eastwards.

(2) At a fork (signpost), turn left towards the Croix du Voissé (b). At the cross, retrace your steps.

(2) Continue along the main path, heading east, and you will soon reach the Abri du Vallon.

(3) Descend left onto the forest track (Yellow Triangle). After about 100 metres, continue straight on (ignore the marked path branching off to the right). After about 250 m, reach a fork.

(4) Keep left and you will soon reach the Fontaine du Wallon. Retrace your steps.

(4) Follow the track to the left (east) as it climbs up the hillside. At the first junction, on a flat stretch, turn right to join a lovely straight path. Follow this to the left and reach the crossroads at the Borne des Trois Communes.

(5) Turn left and follow the^GR®®533along a pleasant route with lovely views of the mountain range opposite. At a fork, continue straight on with the GR^®®.

(6) At a fork, take the path climbing up opposite (let the^GR®® head off to the left). Walk north-east to the Croix de Fresse (c). (If you wish, you can make a round trip to the right to the Croix de Fresse chalet, 200 metres away)

(7) Cross the road and follow the path north-eastwards, climbing behind the signpost bearing the markings. After a steep climb, you’ll emerge at the foot of the antennas and then at the Tête des Révoles viewpoint. Continue along the access path to the antennas, which descends to the forest road.

(8) Turn sharply right and climb, following the Red Disc markings. Pass by the Fontaine des Grognards and continue to a three-way junction.

(9) Turn left towards Fresse via the Chapelle des Vés. The stony track descends through woodland, unmarked, to the Col de Lochère, which offers a superb view over the Fresse stream valley.

(10) Leave the road and, at the far end of the car park, follow a path marked with Red Discs. After a steep climb, you’ll reach the Haut de la Lochère plateau (a lovely open spot amidst the rocks).

(11) Continue along the path marked with a Red Disc and Green Ring. Descend in hairpin bends towards the Four des Fées (d).

(12) You’ll come out onto a tarmac road; follow it to the right. Pass above a car park with facilities and continue to the Chapelle de Vés (e). Follow the tarmac road behind the chapel. Ignore a path branching off to the left and you’ll soon reach a junction.

(13) Follow the path opposite, through the meadow at the edge of the forest (Blue Ring). Climb to the summit of Draimont. Descend on the other side towards the Pic du Corbeau (a path on the left leads to the summit). Return to the main path and continue the descent. Pass a hunters’ shelter (closed) and arrive at a crossroads with an open shelter.

(14) Take the path on the right (Red Disc and Blue Ring). Descend gently towards the Col de Foigneux. At a junction, turn left (west). Further on, veer right (Red Ring).

(15) At the crossroads, take the^second path on the left (west) towards the pond, following the arboretum path. Leave the pond and its shelter on your right and continue along the path branching off to the left (Red Disc). Descend and pass through several recreational areas (tables, benches, playgrounds).

(16) Leave the arboretum path and follow a small path straight ahead. Turn right, then left, and head east.

(17) You’ll come out onto a tarmac road; follow it to the right (Blue Ring). Ignore a turn-off on the left and head down Chemin des Prés de la Goutte. You’ll come out onto Rue des Longs Champs; follow it to the left. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead into Rue du Général de Gaulle to reach the church (S/E).

The route includes several steep climbs. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended.

Several shelters or chalets are available along the route: Vallon, Croix de Fresse, Chapelle des Vés (with toilets), Pic des Corbeaux, Étang de Chaillon.

a) Rocher du Sabba
The Sabbath site is where witches and warlocks gather for ceremonies. Most often, the demonic rite takes place in a spot that is almost always isolated, far from dwellings and on the edge of the forest. The site is generally notable for its mysterious atmosphere: megaliths, rocky terrain, boulder fields, tall trees… Here, several elements come together that might suggest this site does indeed meet the necessary conditions for such ceremonies, whether real or imagined.

b) The Cross of Le Voissé
It was in 1963 that this cross was discovered in the loft of a farmhouse in the valley. Its owner then decided to restore it and erect it on the hill overlooking his property to protect his family, his farm and his animals. Having been vandalised, it was restored to its original state in 1999 by volunteers from the ‘La Voye’ Association, who gathered information through oral history. (Source: Club Vosgien Le Thillot).

c) The Cross of Fresse
The French Campaign was the final phase of the war waged by the Sixth Coalition against the French Empire. It took place from late December 1813 to April 1814. Despite several victories, Napoleon was unable to prevent the coalition armies from entering via the northern and eastern borders and converging on Paris. The first month of the campaign was marked by a slow but steady advance by the allied troops. In Alsace, too weak to resist the invaders’ advance, the French troops, commanded by Marshal Claude Victor Perrin, known as ‘Victor’, withdrew to the foothills of the Vosges. It was whilst defending this small pass, known as the Col de Fresse, that four Grognards were killed by Cossacks. (Sources: Wikipedia).

d) Four des Fées
A long time ago, some peasants, whilst ploughing a neighbouring field, said, pointing to the Four des Fées, “If those good ladies would be so kind as to bake us a cake, it would be most welcome right now.” When they reached the end of the field, imagine their astonishment to see, laid out on a white tablecloth, the most appetising cake in the world. It was accompanied by a knife to cut it. Although frightened by this apparition, they could not turn back and felt obliged to taste it. They were glad they did, for they had never eaten a better pastry. (Source: "Lieux insolites.fr").

e) The Chapel of Les Vés
It owes its name to the wishes of the hamlet’s inhabitants. Indeed, following several consecutive years in which crops had been ravaged by adverse weather conditions (frost, storms, hail, etc.), the farmers of the plateau requested permission in 1863 to build a chapel on this site. The materials used came from an old village church dating from the 17th century. During the Second World War, the building was severely damaged by bombing. Only part of the walls remained.
It was rebuilt for the first time by the local council in 1948, which added a shelter for walkers nearby. In 1996, volunteers initiated a new restoration project to restore this unique chapel to its original charm. Retired craftsmen took part in the work, using traditional techniques, with the local council funding the purchase of materials. The project was so exemplary that the Compagnons du Devoir joined the project and constructed the wooden spire in accordance with 17th-century techniques.
The Chapelle des Vés was inaugurated in June 2000. The following year, the project was awarded^first prize for the North-East region by the National Federation of Associations for the Preservation of Historic Sites and Monuments (Source: website of the municipality of Fresse-sur-Moselle).

f) The Wallon Fountain

In neighbouring towns:
Bussang – The Théâtre du Peuple, a magnificent wooden building. info@theatredupeuple.com.
Le Thillot – Les Hautes Mines, exhibition and tour of copper mines. https://www.hautesmynes.com/contact/.