From the Black Madonna to the Kronprinz Shelter

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Blue round markings, picnic areas, tables and benches throughout the route. This route allows you to discover a few curiosities: the Black Madonna, the Kronprinz shelter (command bunker of the Prince of Bavaria) during the First World War.

Details

n°356520
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.39 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 68 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 64 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 312 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 259 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Emberménil (54370)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.629839° / E 6.695694°
  • Accessible from the train station Gare d'Emberménil.
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3515E
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Photos

The little Black Madonna
Trail
Benches along the entire route.
The Kronprinz shelter

Description of the walk

Start at the car park of Emberménil church.

(S/E) Head towards Chemin de Vaucourt (blue circular markings). Follow this path to reach a place called Le Bon Poirier.

(1) Here you will find a picnic area on the edge of the forest. Continue following the blue circular markings to reach a crossroads.

(2) Turn right (there is a barrier on the path; do not take the left turn). Continue north on this path to reach the Vierge Noire, a peaceful spot with benches and tables.

(3) Take the path on the left at an acute angle to reach an information panel about the Kronprinz shelter.

(4) Go down to the right on the path below for 100 metres to reach the shelter.

(5) Go back up the original path to return to the crossroads with the information sign.

(4) Turn right and follow the blue circular markings to reach the Haute Charrière trench.

(6) Here you will find information panels about anti-cavalry systems during the First World War. Continue along a construction site path to reach a beautiful view of the forests of Embermenil and Laneuville-aux-Bois. You will find a bench here.

(7) After the bench, take the path again, following the blue circular signpost, towards the previous crossroads.

(6) Retrace your steps to return to the Konprinz shelter crossroads.

(4) Turn right (south-east) onto the path. At the first crossroads, turn left (east-south-east) to reach the crossroads at the start of the circular route.

(2) Turn right and follow the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 261 m - Emberménil Church
  2. 1 : km 0.95 - alt. 278 m - Picnic area with 2 tables and benches.
  3. 2 : km 1.66 - alt. 306 m - At the first intersection, follow the blue round markings.
  4. 3 : km 2.25 - alt. 302 m - Black Madonna statue and picnic area
  5. 4 : km 2.8 - alt. 298 m - Path to the Kronprinz
  6. 5 : km 2.87 - alt. 287 m - Abri du Kronprinz
  7. 6 : km 3.29 - alt. 300 m - 14-18 battle site trenches
  8. 7 : km 3.57 - alt. 299 m - Panorama
  9. S/E : km 6.39 - alt. 261 m - Emberménil Church

Notes

Information: there are information panels about different trees along the entire route.

Several picnic areas and benches along the route at (1) and the Black Madonna. Bench at (6).

Worth a visit

Right next to the church is a museum.The Maison de l'Abbé Grégoire in Emberménil presents the life's work of Abbé Grégoire, parish priest of Emberménil, before, during and after the French Revolution.
The Black Madonna: originally, a statuette was hung in a tree by an unknown person, probably at the beginning of the 20th century, to protect crops from damage by large game or to implore protection for the woods from bombing during the Great War. Then the Madonna was given a tin shelter. Every season, a pilgrim repainted it. You can stop here to relax and eat.

The Kronprinz shelter: on a hiking trail, discover the "command bunker" of the Crown Prince of Bavaria during the First World War. With a finish that was rare for a wartime structure, it was reserved for senior officers of the German Army.
The trenches and anti-cavalry network.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Ptibusy
Ptibusy

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk on a beautiful spring’s day! Much of the route runs through woodland and there are still plenty of ruts left by logging vehicles. Nevertheless, the walk is pretty and interesting from a historical perspective (trenches, bunkers). The description is accurate, except that the statue of the Virgin Mary is located after point 3.
We preferred to cross the meadow at point 7 and return via the quiet road.

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Erikachevalier
Erikachevalier

Thank you 🙂 for your review.

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Regis Morlot
Regis Morlot

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant hike, very varied and not difficult, except that the signs are not blue circles but green circles. I continued the route after point 7 to reach Emberménil by road. Otherwise, a nice little hike (21/03/24).

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Christecol
Christecol

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, pleasant little walk through fields and forests. I didn't want to retrace my steps after point 7, so I continued along the Petite Randonnée trail (8 km in total) to reach Emberménil.

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Philou22
Philou22

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No signage before reaching the Black Madonna and the Kronprinz shelter.
Otherwise, a lovely little walk.

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alain lamri
alain lamri

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, varied walk: through the forest, across fields... The only downside is that you have to return to the village by road to make a circular route.

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Erikachevalier
Erikachevalier
• Edited:

Thank you for your comments 🙂

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Milor54
Milor54

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A short, easy walk with some interesting sights.

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tamini pascal
tamini pascal
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Easy route, follow the green round markings, not the blue ones. Wear waterproof shoes during this season. The Black Madonna is not actually at point number 3 as indicated. Continue along the route as indicated towards point number 4. After about 100 metres, the Black Madonna will be on your right. There are many informative signs to discover. A pleasant walk. Thank you and have a good day.

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annalpha
annalpha

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant little route

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Rando268
Rando268

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant but signage a little difficult to find before the Kronprinz shelter.
IGN map useful.

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the guitar hero
the guitar hero
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Much of the hike takes place in tall grass, and we were wearing shorts, which resulted in three ticks being removed from my wife and two from me, so be aware of that.
On the other hand, in some places there were lots of butterflies, especially in the shelter of the Kronprinz, which was very pleasant.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that the trail markers are not blue circles but green circles.

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