From the Ludres plateau to the Houdemont hillsides

Start: car park at the entrance to the Plateau de Ludres Leisure Park, on the right as you arrive on the plateau. Return to the intersection of the road with the forest path known as "Chemin Stratégique".

(S/E) Head west towards Cité d'Affrique. After the archery range, you can turn right at a white and red metal barrier to cross the MTB Park (great trial facilities and technical courses; in this case, cross the lawn to join the fitness trail and follow it to the left). Otherwise, take the track on the right at the next intersection (green barrier). Join the entrance to the Bagneris Forest Road (also marked by a barrier). This road leads to the Chavigny Forest House; follow it to the boundary between plots 484 and 487. Turn right towards Houdemont on the path that separates these plots; this section is marked Anneau Bleu (French Alpine Club route A).

(1) At the first intersection, leave this trail and continue straight ahead to a fir forest with a micro-relief area popular with mountain bikers. At the next junction, take the path on the right. At the first intersection (just before a marker, at a red sign indicating plot 5), turn left, then at the next junction, when you see the buildings of a tennis club, take the track on the right. You will then come to a larger path, which you should follow to the left. This path, marked Anneau Noir (Ecovillage Houdemont), leads to a beautiful Napoleonic boundary marker (if not for the orange markings at the top).

(2) Take a path on the right under the power line and follow the Anneau Noir markings, which veer slightly to the left at a three-way junction, until you reach a bridge crossing the A33 motorway. Note: nearby, the A33 has a long descent known as the Grand Canyon by regular users.

(3) Without crossing it, turn right onto the forest road and follow it straight ahead. After about 700 metres, at a three-way junction, take the track on the left to reach a beautiful limestone lawn.

(4) Take a look at the information panel and continue slightly to the right (do not follow the Anneau Bleu markers) along the path that leads to the viewpoint. Before you get there, you can already see the commercial areas of Houdemont and Frocourt (Fléville-devant-Nancy) and, in the distance, the Meurthe valley, recognisable by the chemical factories in Laneuveville-devant-Nancy and Dombasle-sur-Meurthe.

(5) Make a return trip to the orientation table to enjoy the view of Greater Nancy and the Vosges mountains in good weather. At the exit of the viewpoint, follow the Red Ring markings on the left, which wind down the hillside (pay close attention to changes in direction), pass under the motorway and lead to the village of Houdemont. After going around the Château de Mont au Ban (be careful, the descent is slippery when it rains), leave the Anneau Rouge trail at the end of the estate's surrounding wall and take a path on the hillside to the left. Go down the second street on the right (Rue du Général de Gaulle) for about 100 metres and, at the old school, take the Yellow Ring trail on the left, which leads to the Fonteno Pond, the park of the same name and up the stream.

(6) Cross the road and continue climbing to the Fonteno spring (several information panels), pass the catchment area and continue to follow the Anneau Jaune markings, which go around an orchard and then climb up the hillside on the left. At the junction, take the path on the right and follow the signs shared with the Anneau Rouge. After a fork to the left, join the GR®5F, shared with the Anneau Rouge signs.

(7) At a place called La Croix, just before a calvary, take the path on the left that climbs straight up between the houses. You can avoid a steep slope by taking the path that branches off to the left and then comes back up higher. After a large uphill bend, join a side road off Rue de Bois-le-Duc, then this street. Look up to see the squirrel crossing and, a little further on, take the path on the left which then follows the contour line. At the end, climb up on the right to reach the bridge over the A33 and cross it.

(3) Follow the forest road you took earlier for 200 metres, then leave it to follow the path on the right (marked with the French Alpine Club's Blue Ring) at the edge of the forest, which then veers left into the forest.

(8) When the Anneau Bleu markings fork to the right, continue straight ahead on the gravel path, then at the three-way junction, turn right to the Parc de Loisirs du Plateau. At the edge of the forest, follow the road on the left to reach the car park (S/E).

Walking poles are recommended for the sometimes steep ascents and descents.

This route follows several sections of the trails created and maintained by the Ecovillage Houdemont association. The four routes it offers are described and can be downloaded from its website.