Route of the Three Soldiers Fountains

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Legend attributes the name of the fountain to an event during the war in the time of Charles the Bold. Lorraine partisans, loyal to Duke René, harassed the Burgundians besieging Epinal and managed to lure a detachment of Burgundians into an ambush not far from the fountain. They killed many of the soldiers in the detachment and left the bodies of three of them there.

Details

n°373097
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.65 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 191 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 190 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 465 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 371 m
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park on Rue du Général de Gaulle, heading towards Renauvoid (Passée Communale).

(S/E) Cross the road and head towards the Fontaine des Trois Soldats fountain, following the red cross markings.

(1) Follow the red disc markings and cross the Canal d'Alimentation du Réservoir de Bouzey. Turn right and follow the small stream to reach the Treize Cantons.

(2) Continue west, reach the D51 road, cross it, stay on the red disc trail towards the Bois du Marquisat, then towards the Poudrières ruins.

(3) Continue along the path to reach the Roches d'Olima.

(4) Climb gently. Stay on the red cross trail, which rejoins the Canal d'Alimentation du Réservoir de Bouzey. You will then reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 445 m - Communal car park
  2. 1 : km 0.92 - alt. 394 m - Fountains of the 3 Soldiers
  3. 2 : km 3.19 - alt. 439 m - The Thirteen Cantons
  4. 3 : km 5.32 - alt. 382 m - Ruined powder magazine
  5. 4 : km 5.87 - alt. 374 m - View of the Olima Rocks
  6. S/E : km 7.65 - alt. 446 m - Communal car park

Notes

  • Free parking.
  • In wet weather, make sure you wear suitable footwear, as there are some steep climbs and descents that make this walk more challenging.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 15 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 27333074

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

For my first hike in the Vosges with my limited experience, I am very satisfied! The route is really nice, you are in the middle of the forest, it's great. The circuit is also interesting for its few viewpoints: the fountain, the Olima rocks, the canal. Be sure to wear good shoes, though. It seems obvious, but there are two or three technical sections (two steep slopes and a section with water—not much, but enough to get your feet wet if you don't have the right shoes). Thanks to the Visorando team!

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Macalice
Macalice

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route, impressive forest and partial shade. Very passable path.

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Annick Ménard
Annick Ménard
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful Vosges forest. Historical interest of the Fontaine des Trois Soldats (said to be the site of a battle between soldiers from Lorraine and Burgundy).
Possibility of extending the walk to the source of the Avière, near Lake Bouzey.
The Olima rocks are superb and characteristic of the large boulders that are regularly found in the Vosges forest (such as the Mère Henry rock above Moyenmoutiers).
The passage along the supply canal is very picturesque, and let's not forget to mention, during the last climb, the Grotte de la Vierge (Virgin's Cave) on the left, a place of pilgrimage since the 19th century.
In conclusion, this is a pleasant, varied and fairly easy short hike.

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beurdouche
beurdouche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike that we recommend to everyone.

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Phosphore97
Phosphore97

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Travelled with IGN map 3518OT, which helped to clear up some doubts as the area is criss-crossed by various marked and unmarked trails and roads (mountain biking, forest trails).

The southern section is physically demanding, with a steep climb and technically challenging, with a steep descent over roots. This straight section cuts across the valleys to rejoin the forest road we left earlier. For the less athletic, it should be possible to stay on the forest road, even if it is longer.

Take a break at the foot of the impressive Roches d'Olima rocks and observe the work on the Bouzey reservoir's supply canal. Stop for a moment at the curious site of Notre Dame des Trois Vallées.

Very shady. No panoramic views, but beautiful light around the Bouzey reservoir's supply canal at the end of the route.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

We had difficulty finding our way and got lost. What a shame

Where exactly?

Have you considered using the Visorando GPS app to find your way?

See you soon

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Nicole Gérard
Nicole Gérard

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We had difficulty finding our way and got lost. What a shame

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bch57
bch57

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

For those who enjoy walks in the forest: there is little to see except trees and undergrowth! At one point, the signposting was poor: we had to walk more than a hundred metres before finding the red circles again!

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Audrius
Audrius

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very varied walk, time flies by. You can see rock formations, forest, canal, a few small streams. Risk of being very slippery in wet weather on the slopes (mud + rocks + roots), hiking poles recommended in case of rain.

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nono57881
nono57881

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We went on a very beautiful hike in very hot weather. The route, which is entirely through forest, is ideal in this case. The route is varied and includes some serious elevation changes (up and down). It is therefore best to wear good shoes and perhaps even bring a walking stick.

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Pierre-Lightman
Pierre-Lightman

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Great route, lots to see along the way, but be careful: between Les Treize Cantons and La Poudrière en Ruines, the trail crosses the small river it follows several times, so make sure you wear good shoes, and the gradients are quite steep where they occur. When the weather is wet, make sure you have good shoes, or even walking sticks. I have the beginnings of sciatica and the (almost slight) descent hurts a lot.

Otherwise, I did it in 2 hours and 15 minutes, but I'm a good walker.

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MTRP1974
MTRP1974

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
A lovely walk on 15 October 2017 with summer temperatures.
I really enjoyed the varied route through different forests, along the Bouzey canal and through meadows.
I'd do it again.
Two elevation changes: uphill and downhill, so make sure you have good walking shoes!
I'll definitely be back
Best regards
Nicole

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dompor
dompor
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very beautiful hike. Very well marked. Easy except for a few steep sections.

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francois9010
francois9010

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

hi, very beautiful parish-specific to Brittany hike, well marked, easy except for two or three climbs. From the starting point, return to Épinal via the red circular trail Épinal Lac de Bouzey.

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km55
km55

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, and the weather was lovely too! We started at point 2 because we couldn't find point 1, but that wasn't a problem at all. Be careful not to follow only the red circles along the entire route. The trail is very well marked. There are lots of forests with very pleasant paths.

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