Southern route of the Epinal fortress

Park in the car park near a playground on Rue des Mazerey.

(S) Take the ascending gravel path.

(1) Cross the water supply canal linking Remiremont to the Bouzey reservoir. Head towards Laménil on the tarmac road, turn left and, 50 metres further on, turn right. After passing through Laménil, head towards the forest: the tarmac road ends and becomes a track.

(2) At the bend, take the ascending path on the right; then, once at the top, turn right at a 90° angle. Follow the path until you reach a stony track.

(3) Turn right and take the sunken track of the old Route 60 leading to the Réduit du Bois d'Arches.

(4) Head back the way you came and return to the previous junction.

(3) Take the descending track, leaving two forest lanes to your right and left, and continue straight ahead. You will reach La Poudrière.

(5) Turn back and take the stony path down to a tarmac road.

(6) Turn right to reach the D12 at Rainjuménil, where you’ll find a road sign pointing to Dinozé on the right and Hadol on the left.

(7) Cross this road (take care) and go straight on along the small road leading down to the Rainjuménil stream. Cross the bridge over the stream and the bridge under the railway line, head up to a private track and continue past two houses.

(8) Caution: private property. Turn right and take the path along the edge of the field, following a wire fence on your left. Continue for 150m and join a stony track.
Head diagonally left, walk 100m and turn right at the sign for “La Pierre Torelle”. Climb straight up (caution: steep gradient of around 32% in places). At the top, turn left following the ridge path, then join a stony track leading to a sign indicating the access to Fort du Bambois.

(9) Fort du Bambois: retrace your steps and, at the hairpin bend, take a path through the woodland on your right. At the D434, you’ll come to some monuments with a table and benches.

(10) Take the small road to the right above the D434, follow it for a short distance then turn off. At the 450m point, turn left and follow the road downhill to reach the Quatre Vents junction.

(11) Cross the road (take care) and go straight on to follow the small tarmac road alongside small ponds on your right. You will arrive at the Etang du Bult.

(12) Pass above the Etang du Bult intermediate depot (private property), and reach the eastern battery of Fort des Friches and its barracks for 30 men.

(13) Return to the road for 200m to find the entrance to Fort des Friches.

(14) Head back down and continue along the road, passing the western battery. Stay on this road to reach the junction with the road leading to La Curtillotte.

(15) Cross the junction and continue straight on along this path, passing through a mix of woodland and fields before reaching the finish at Étang de Morévoid (E).

(5) The Powder Magazine: you can see the entrance and exit of a tunnel through which the train used to enter to supply the powder and shell storage chambers for the Réduit’s artillery.

For more information, visit the website
Thank you to the volunteers who are restoring the fortress buildings.