Shortcut

Coming from the village of Lahaymeix towards Courouvre, after about 2 km, take the track on your left. Continue for 500 m through the fields, and park your vehicle at the edge of the forest.

The route is signposted with green directional signs and is 3 km long

(S/E) With your back to the track, take the path on the left. After a few metres, you will come across ‘Racines’ (Katarina Kudelova, 2007). Continue for 100 m and you will see “Route” (Bevis Martin and Charlie Youle, 2015) on your left. Carry on; at the bottom of the slope there is a junction.

(1) Turn left; after about twenty metres you will see a swing on your right: “Ad Agio For Swings” (Tom Volkaert, 2019). Then retrace your steps and continue along the path.

(1) Continue straight ahead. After a short climb, descend for about 200 m. Two artworks then stand on either side of the path: on the right, the artwork “Cachée” (Lorentino, 2006); on the left, “Ninth Wave” (Stefan Papco, 2014). Continue along the path.

(2) At the next junction, turn right, cross the small ditch and continue for 500 m. A fluorescent green sign indicates a path on the right leading to “Station-je me suis levé” (Edouard Boyer, 2007). Return to the path and continue.

(3) Turn right. About a hundred metres further on stands “Cartouche” (Marion Verboom, 2013). After the artwork, walk about ten metres then take the fork to the right. Further on, on your left, is “Nature Morte” (David de Tscharner, 2018). Return to the main path and walk about a hundred metres: on your right, you will find the stone colossus “One of those who were too long in the woods” (Stefan Rinck, 2010). Continue along the path until you reach your vehicle. (S/E).

In the heart of the Meuse department, in the heart of the countryside, lies a forest dotted with works of art made of wood, stone or iron. The Vent des Forêts association is behind this open-air space. Since 1977, it has invited around ten international artists each year to offer a creative perspective on nature. Immersed in the rural and natural setting of the heart of the Meuse, the artists create works in harmony with the forest. The creation of these works gives rise to encounters and shapes the history of this unique place.

Across 5,000 hectares of forest, seven marked routes ranging from 1 to 4 hours’ walk are freely accessible all year round.

Pick up a trail map and set off to discover around a hundred artworks. A map is also available free of charge outside the town hall in Fresnes-au-Mont.

From October to March, the hunting season is open, so please check the hunting calendar available at http://ventdesforets.com

We also recommend that you take with you the 1:25,000 scale IGN paper maps for this hike. Click here to order them: 3114SB.

Always be careful and prepared when out walking. Visorando and the author of this guide cannot be held responsible for any accidents or incidents that may occur on this route.