Houve Forest in Falck

de fr

A magnificent hike in the La Houve forest, accessible to the whole family. Passing through Merten, La Ferme aux Cloches, the Miners' Trail, the Oak of the Cats, the fountain, the statue of Saint Christopher, Falck, the water tower and arrival at the car park.

Details

n°1758534
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.52 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 91 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 94 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 277 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 203 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Falck (57550)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.235511° / E 6.641117°
  • Accessible from the train station Gare de Falck (Rue principale).
  • Hour-by-hour weather
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Photos

The fountain
Statue of Saint Christopher and the child.
The cat oak tree.

Description of the walk

Departure from the CES gymnasium car park in Falck village, accessible via Rue du Gymnase.

(S/E) Pass between the stadium and the indoor tennis court to the south-east and turn left to the north-east. Follow the path to the edge of the woods. Leave the paths on the right and turn left to reach an intersection.

(1) Take the path on the right, heading east, and enter the forest. You will reach a crossroads with four paths.

(2) Take the path on the left and continue to the water tower on the left of the crossroads.

(3) Cross the crossroads, ignore the path leading south-west and follow the forest road south until you reach the hamlet of "Ferme aux Cloches".

(4) At the T-junction, turn right, cross the hamlet and continue left on the "Schnapsweg" (alcohol trail). Continue south-west to the Hischbrunn forest road.

(5) Turn right onto it, then continue straight ahead until you reach the second intersection.

(6) Leave the forest road and take the path on the left, heading south. You will arrive at the Miners' Path (a path used by miners to cycle to the mine).

(7) Take the Miners' Path on the left, heading south-east. Ignore any paths or tracks leading off to the right or left. Cross the D23 and continue along the Houve Forest Road until you reach the crossroads.

(8) Turn right, heading south, until you reach the "Chêne aux Chats" (Katzeneiche).

(9) Turn right, heading south-west, onto the forest road, cross the bridge over the railway line and then the D23a departmental road. Take the asphalted Langenberg forest road.

(10) Leave the forest road on the right and follow the forest path north-west to the second intersection, then turn left towards the fountain and the sequoias (the largest was planted in 1866).

(11) After the fountain, turn right towards the north-west until you reach the Saint Christophe picnic area (Les Jeannettes restaurant to cut the route short or picnic area with tables and benches).

(12) At the statue, turn left towards the west. Go under the bridge and follow the railway line on the right until you reach the edge of the forest.

(13) Follow the path to the left, heading north-west, to the water tower located in the forest at the highest point of the route.

(14) Follow the path downhill. Pass between the stadium and the indoor tennis court to return to the car park (A/D).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 228 m - Parking at the CES gymnasium in Falck village.
  2. 1 : km 1.04 - alt. 209 m - At the intersection, enter the forest on the right.
  3. 2 : km 1.46 - alt. 208 m - Intersection, on the left
  4. 3 : km 2.05 - alt. 204 m - Crossing a crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.41 - alt. 207 m - Ferme aux Cloches hamlet.
  6. 5 : km 4.61 - alt. 213 m - Hischbrunn Forest Road
  7. 6 : km 5.14 - alt. 215 m - Intersection, on the left
  8. 7 : km 5.44 - alt. 215 m - Miners' Trail
  9. 8 : km 6.8 - alt. 219 m - Intersection, on the right.
  10. 9 : km 7.51 - alt. 230 m - Katzeneiche
  11. 10 : km 8.44 - alt. 243 m - Intersection, on the right
  12. 11 : km 10.2 - alt. 243 m - Fountain and redwoods
  13. 12 : km 11.09 - alt. 226 m - Picnic area
  14. 13 : km 12.27 - alt. 226 m - Edge of the forest
  15. 14 : km 13.1 - alt. 275 m - Water tower
  16. S/E : km 14.52 - alt. 228 m - Parking at the CES gymnasium in Falck village.

Notes

Equipment: light hiking boots, sandy trails, compacted forest roads, some asphalt.
No water sources along the route.
The only shelter available is under the SNCF bridge at the entrance to Ferme aux Cloches.

Worth a visit

- Highland cattle with long horns,
- Alcohol smugglers' trail,
- Ferme aux Cloches,
- Miners' Trail,
- Katzeneiche oak tree.
- Fountain, sequoia trees,
- Saint Christopher statue.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
MmtAkh
MmtAkh

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

At point 13, just pass the two red tractors and continue straight ahead. Nothing special.

Nice circuit

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j paul 57600
j paul 57600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike.
Two drawbacks:
- the mosquitoes... there were so many... we ended up as their meal
- and at point 13, the path disappears... you have to find another path a little further on that takes you back to the trail (with the help of Visorando, it's easy to find).

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Christecol
Christecol

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk through a forest with a variety of tree species that has been protected from storms. At this time of year, there are still a few flowers, notably broom.
After point 13, the path, which is partially blocked by agricultural equipment, has disappeared, so you will need to walk alongside it.

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Kennocka
Kennocka

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, almost entirely in the forest and on beautiful trails. Interesting for the oak tree with cats and the numerous sequoias, and very pleasant.

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Nature57
Nature57

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty, long forest walk in the beautiful Falck Forest. Best done in good weather! Please note that there are few or no signposts...

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Frantz57
Frantz57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely hike in beautiful autumn sunshine, quite long but without any particular difficulties.
We will definitely do it again in the spring.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

Neither Visorando nor the author are responsible for signposting. Signposting is often included in the description when it exists on the ground, but otherwise, the description and map are supposed to be sufficient for orientation.
Visorando does not mark the suggested walks.

Visorando provides a detailed description (which can be improved) and a 1:25,000 IGN map. And, if signposting is essential for you, Visorando provides virtual signposting: a GPS application.

This tool, offered free of charge by Visorando, allows you to validate waypoints and thus remove any doubts you may have about your direction.

How to use the Visorando application

Best regards

Machine-translated

annick karmann
annick karmann

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The signposting of the last few kilometres could be improved (towards the water tower).

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