Western route from the Épinal Stronghold

Start at the junction of the D51 and Rue du Fort.

(S) Follow Rue du Fort to reach the entrance to Fort de Roulonq, which is privately owned and cannot be visited.

(1) Head back down the street, continue along the Chemin de la Veuve and join the departmental road. Turn left towards the forest and follow the path straight on to the Réduit du Thiéha and its old batteries (private property, do not enter).

(2) Continue along the easy path through the forest to Fort du Tiéha. Stay on the path and do not enter this private property.

(3) Continue along this old 60-gauge track, which was used by the Décauville railway to supply strategic locations. Cross the D39 and continue straight ahead.

(4) At the junction, turn right, walk for about 150 metres and then turn left. Stay on the old track, which forms the basis of the path.

(5) At the tunnel (private, but you can have a look from the outside), which provided shelter for the train in the event of bombing, continue along this flat track. At the junction with Rue de Martin Fontaine (point 422), go straight on and then, a few metres further on, turn left.

(6) At the Croix des Brûlées junction, first turn right then left and continue along the old Line 60 track, which is a stony path. Pass a turn-off on the right and head towards the entrance to Fort de Girancourt (private property).

(7) Continue along the track as it descends towards Lac de Bouzey.
When you reach the lake, take in the view of the Chaumousey intermediate depot, which serves to protect the train
(private property), which is visible from the road if you turn round.

(8) Continue along the footpath which runs alongside the lake on your right.

(9) At the T-junction, turn left onto the path that runs alongside the feed canal on your left. Cross the D460 at the pedestrian crossing and continue along this footpath.

(10) At Rue du Fort, turn left, crossing over the feed canal.

(11) At Fort de Sanchey, go round it on the right, following the footpath, and rejoin the canal.

(12) Cross the canal via the footbridge and turn right. Take the tarmac cycle path, pass through Les Forges and continue until you reach a sharp bend to the right (elevation 357).

(13) Leave the path running alongside the canal by turning left and head towards Les Cots via the street of the same name. Cross the D266, walk a few metres to the left and continue along Rue de la Ménerve to the right. At La Ménère, turn right onto Rue des Forts and head towards Fort d’Uxegney.

(14) Continue along the rebuilt Route 60, pass under the D166 and carry on to Fort de Bois l’Abbé.

(15) At Fort de Bois l’Abbé, continue along the road for about 200 metres, then turn left onto the path leading into the forest. Follow this path as it bends to the right and joins a road. Follow this road for a few metres to the right, then continue along the next track to the left. At the three-way junction, turn right and head for Fort de la Grande Haie or Golbey.

(16) Continue to the right for a few metres to reach the car park next to the fort (E).

You can find all the information about the forts by visiting the website on the Place Forte d’Épinal.
Thank you to the “ARFUPE” association for bringing some of our heritage monuments back to life.

Leave a car at the start and follow the route.
Arrange for another vehicle to take you back to Fort de Golbey Grande Haie.

Four stages, each around twenty kilometres long, which sometimes follow the old 60 or Décauville railway line that linked the forts, powder magazines, barracks, hospitals and outbuildings. (120 km)

(9) At the end of the embankment, there are bars serving food.

(11) Fort de Sanchey, managed by an association which is carrying out its restoration.

(14) Fort d’Uxegney can be visited by appointment. The “ARFUPE” association has rebuilt the 60-gauge railway.

Alternative route: (15) You can take the road, which follows the old ‘voie de 60’, to Fort de la Grande Haie
Golbey (easier).