From Lapoutroie to Fréland via the Col de Chamont

A steep start, a few sections through the forest, but above all beautiful views of Lapoutroie and the Val d’Orbey, the Brézouard and the Tête des Faux, as well as Fréland and the Kaelblin massif.

Details

18785056
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.25 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 408 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 405 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 681 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 418 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park located to the right of Rue du Docteur Macker, just after the bridge over the Béhine.

(S/E) Take Rue du Dr Macker, crossing over the D415 (Route du Bonhomme).

(1) At the junction just ahead, continue straight on along Chemin de la Forêt, then follow the forest track towards La Graine.

(2) Leave the track and turn right onto the sloping path (marked with a Yellow Ring). This fairly steep climb leads onto a wide forest track.

(3) Turn left until you reach an aerial.

(4) Continue straight on along the forest track, which leads to a tarmac road.

(5) Follow it to the right to reach the Col de Chamont.

(6) Head down the small road on the right, following the Red Diamond markings.

(7) Turn right and continue to the next junction.

(8) Keep left, then take another left at the hairpin bend about fifty metres further on. Continue to follow the same markings to reach Fréland church and the cemetery.

(9) Turn left to reach the Grand Rue opposite the town hall. Head right towards the Musée du Pays Welche. Return to the church junction via Rue de la Rochette.

(9) Turn left onto Rue des Hauts Jardins towards Ongrange. Ignore the turn-offs on either side and continue to the pass.

(10) Follow the Yellow Disc-marked path straight ahead, which passes through La Basse des Buissons.

(11) Carry on straight ahead, following the Yellow Disc markings which pass above Les Buissons and descend towards Lapoutroie.

(1) Turn left and cross the bridge on the D415 to return to the starting point just before the bridge over the Béhine (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 419 m - Car park at the - Béhine (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.16 - alt. 424 m - Crossing the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.11 - alt. 546 m - Sloping path, Yellow Ring
  4. 3 : km 1.89 - alt. 644 m - Forest track
  5. 4 : km 2.18 - alt. 647 m - Branch
  6. 5 : km 2.73 - alt. 638 m - Tarmac road
  7. 6 : km 3.29 - alt. 681 m - Col de Chamont (681m)
  8. 7 : km 4.17 - alt. 623 m - Junction
  9. 8 : km 5.02 - alt. 565 m - Crossroads, turn left
  10. 9 : km 6.04 - alt. 433 m - Fréland Church
  11. 10 : km 8.48 - alt. 550 m - Col de Knolpré (549m)
  12. 11 : km 9.73 - alt. 542 m - Junction with Yellow Disc markings
  13. S/E : km 11.25 - alt. 418 m - Béhine car park

Notes

Refreshments in Fréland: museum restaurant.

Worth a visit

Visit to the Musée du Pays Welche.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
richardd
richardd

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk with beautiful views, but a lot of tarmac.

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Sandrajeanmaire
Sandrajeanmaire

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, pleasant route. Too much of it is on the road
The distance information is correct, but the estimated time is far too long.

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Ludo68000
Ludo68000

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, not-too-long route offering stunning views of Lapoutroie and Fréland.
However, a significant part of the route is on tarmac.

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Mymosa
Mymosa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route that starts off steep and through woodland, accompanied by the sound of the bells of the Vosges cows, followed by beautiful, unobstructed views and a farm selling homemade ice cream :-) before heading down to Fréland – we cut short the section through Fréland, saving a good hour and a half – and a leisurely return to Lapoutroie, which is a gentle downhill walk.

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Nature57
Nature57

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk that takes you through the villages of Lapoutroie and Fréland, via the Col de Chamont and its magnificent views of the surrounding valleys.

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