Panoramic route at the Tête des Cuveaux

Access: from the N57, take the Éloyes exit. Cross the Moselle, pass the town hall, then immediately turn right and go up Rue de Relanchatel to the end.
Parking: car park at the top of Rue de Relanchatel in Le Frêne (part of the municipality of Éloyes) near the waste collection bins and a water tower.

Red Ringtrail markers

(S/E) At the junction of the five roads, turn right onto the small uphill road (signposted "n° 13 Les Cuveaux 2 h"). It is only tarmac for about 60 metres and passes a few beautiful houses before turning left onto a pleasant path at the edge of the forest. There are several viewpoints along the way. At the end of the path, turn left onto a wider forest path.

(1) Before turning left, continue right for about 50 metres to pass by the Croix de Groshaut and discover a beautiful spot for a break, with two picnic tables and a small shelter with a bench. Retrace your steps and continue right on the route that leads to the Roche des Cuveaux.

(2) Continue left for a round trip to Roche des Cuveaux.

(3) La Roche des Cuveaux consists of small cavities carved into the sandstone thousands of years ago. This unusual site also offers a magnificent view of the valley. Retrace your steps.

(2) Turn left towards Belvédère des Cuveaux, which you will reach in about ten minutes.

(4) The Belvédère des Cuveaux is a 9-metre-high wooden promontory. It overlooks the Moselle valley and offers breathtaking views. In good weather, you can see the entire Vosges mountains and even the Jura and the highest peaks of the Alps. An orientation table is installed at the top of the tower. Continue left through the woods for about 400 metres, along a small path that crosses and winds around some superb rocks. You will arrive at the Abri des Cuveaux chalet, equipped with a beautiful table for ten people, an ideal place for a picnic break. There is also an outdoor table. A rocky promontory offers a beautiful view of the village of Éloyes, which is more than 350 m below.

(5) For the end of the route, follow the small, quiet and very pleasant tarmac road to the left. It winds its way through beautiful deciduous forests. A delight in autumn with their magnificent shimmering colours. It descends gently for 900 m and leads back to the Frêne car park (S/E).

For a break:
(1) Two outdoor picnic tables and a small shelter.
(5) Open shelter, equipped with a large table for ten people and an outdoor picnic table.

The Cuveaux rock: a site with 17 cavities carved into the sandstone thousands of years ago, measuring up to 70 cm in diameter, which gave this plateau the name "Tête des Cuveaux" = small vats. This Vosges sandstone rock, approximately 8 metres high, is composed of superimposed blocks of uneven thickness, some excavated at their bases, others corbelled. It is the presence of ancient glaciers and, in particular, the water from streams flowing on the surface of these glaciers that is thought to have caused this erosion. History tells us that this south-west facing site was known for thousands of years by ancient civilisations, including the Celtic Leuques people who ruled the region before the Roman conquest. They probably practised a cult there in which the stagnant water in the pools played a purifying role before worshipping the god Belenus, represented by the sun. Followers of meditation and magnetism sometimes meet at this place, which they consider to be highly vibrational, with a function linked to healing.

The Tête des Cuveaux viewpoint: 9 metres high, the Tête des Cuveaux viewpoint overlooks the trees and has an orientation table that allows you to identify the iconic landmarks visible from this vantage point. Educational panels are installed at the top of the observation tower to provide information about the surrounding nature.