Ranzey Maquis Route

de fr

This route spans two forests (Raon and Ranzey). The site is steeped in history, with remnants of soldiers' passage during the First World War and a monument paying tribute to the Ranzey maquis (1939-45). Numerous educational panels provide details about the various points of interest. There is also a truly impressive panorama to discover at the gigantic orientation table at La Croisette, which is the starting point for this hike.

Details

n°21785244
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.57 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 111 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 109 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 322 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 241 m
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Photos

Fairy rock
Cavity (barracks)
The staircase leading to the cliffs
The sandstone cliffs

Description of the walk

Car park in front of the Croisette orientation table.

(S/E) Take the Bezange road south for 100 metres and take the path on the left (signposted).

(1) At the fork, turn right and stay on the path for about 600 metres, skirting the forest.

(2) Just before the path widens, turn left downhill to enter the forest, heading towards Roches des Fées. Take the path on your left to enter the forest. Go down the steps and discover this remarkable sandstone cliff, several metres high. Walk along it. On your right, take the small path for about 20 metres, which descends towards the Source des Fées. Return to the path, continue along the Roche des Fées, then go back up the steps.

(3) At the cairn (pile of stones), continue along the path on the right downhill. Over 1 km, you will discover the remains of the First World War (trenches, cavities in the rock for barracks) along an educational trail.

(4) At the Petite Mare, walk all the way around it, then take the path on your right. Cross a small stream using a footbridge, then continue straight ahead.

(5) Turn right and continue along the path. You will come across the Tranchées 14/18 (14/18 Trenches), small cavities in the sandstone cliff, then, after about 700 metres, the Cantonnement 14/18 (14/18 Barracks) (the kitchens, the 1917 wash house fountain, the water tank). An old tin shelter has been converted into a picnic area.

(6) You will come to a larger forest road, which you follow straight ahead. This will take you to the Bezange road. At the intersection, you will see a monument in honour of the Maquis de Ranzey (39-45). Continue along the Bezange road for 430 m to the left.

(7) Take the path on your right. After 200 m, enter the forest and continue along the path to the right for 130 m.

(8) Turn left. After 320 m, at the fork, take the path on your left. This will take you to a wide forest road, which you will follow to the left until it ends. You will arrive at the Bezange road, which will take you back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 320 m - La Croisette car park
  2. 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 312 m - Path running alongside the forest
  3. 2 : km 1.38 - alt. 292 m - Sandstone cliff
  4. 3 : km 1.84 - alt. 283 m - Cairn
  5. 4 : km 2.09 - alt. 243 m - La Petite Mare
  6. 5 : km 2.42 - alt. 264 m - Remains of the 1914-18 war
  7. 6 : km 3.45 - alt. 279 m - Fork in the forest road
  8. 7 : km 4.9 - alt. 264 m - Entrance to the forest
  9. 8 : km 5.23 - alt. 249 m - Path leading to the forest road
  10. S/E : km 7.57 - alt. 320 m - La Croisette car park

Worth a visit

Stele in tribute to the Maquis de Ranzey
This memorial was erected in 2012 at a place called La Fontaine aux Pierres to perpetuate the memory of the Ranzey Maquis resistance fighters. In September 1944, 200 resistance fighters took refuge in the Forest of Ranzey to deal terrible blows to the German army.

Remains from 1914-1918
It was partly here that the Battle of Grand Couronné took place in September 1914, a prelude to the first Battle of the Marne. The trenches and barracks here bear witness to this.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
ktombre
ktombre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great walk, with interesting natural sites (fairy rock) and references to the world wars. Information signs about the different trees add to the experience.

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YvelineFI
YvelineFI

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, muddy hike in February, but very pleasant with occasional sunshine and some interesting discoveries from 1914–1918.

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Harmony Wonner
Harmony Wonner
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in dry weather.
Some sections may be very wet from recent rainfall and could be difficult/slippery.
Markings are very uncertain in places: the route follows different markings from other hikes, which can be confusing: please refer to the detailed description.
Tall grass is present throughout the route: trousers are essential to avoid brambles, nettles and ticks!
The small pond (point 4) is interesting but not remarkable on this day.
Hike to be repeated in very hot weather: the dense forest should provide welcome coolness.

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Zou48
Zou48

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike offering varied landscapes. Woods, fields. Several places steeped in history: (14-18) and (Ranzey maquis 39-45). We found the information panels about the different trees interesting. Beautiful views at the start and finish, climbing (a few steps) up to the orientation table on the hill.

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sebge54
sebge54

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Markings not clear at point 4 (around the small pond) but you find your way after going around it.

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mini randonneur
mini randonneur

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Starting point very poorly signposted
When entering Hoéville, there is no information on how to reach this starting point, which is outside the town
Route sometimes difficult to find
Some access points are a little difficult
We did not do the second part and returned to the starting point by road
A little disappointed compared to the St Ignon forest route

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logedu
logedu
isa55
isa55

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I really enjoyed the first part of this hike, in the Ranzey forest, with the Roche des Fées, which you would never expect to find if you weren't from the area! The remains from World War I are moving. As for the little pond, it was dry when I passed by.
However, I found that the forest had been badly damaged by forestry tractors, which was a shame. It also made it a little difficult to find your way around. The second part is less picturesque, but the monument in tribute to the Ranzey maquis is worth seeing.

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