The Serva Waterfall from the Champ du Feu

(S/E) From the Champ du Feu chalet (tourist office), descend to the right of the building, following the yellow ring - yellow triangle - yellow cross markings towards the "Cascade de La Serva" waterfall. You will come to a track.

(1) Cross it, continue straight ahead and descend. When you reach a clearing, turn right, following the yellow ring - yellow triangle markings. You will arrive at a clearing at Nass Wei.

(2) Take the path marked with a yellow ring and yellow triangle on your right. Cut across two tracks. Further on, you will come to an intersection with a third track.

(3) Follow the track to the right to reach the waterfall (you can carefully descend to the right to get closer to the stream; footbridge built in 1996 by the Club Vosgien).

(4) Retrace your steps back to the previous intersection.

(3) Turn right onto the Route forestière du Prés du Puits (yellow ring markings towards La Perheux). At the intersection with the yellow cross markings, find the path to the viewpoint on the right (off the trail). N.B. Access to the Grotte du Déserteur is prohibited as it is dangerous (rockfalls and risk of falling).

(5) Turn left at an acute angle and follow the yellow cross markings. Climb steadily. Ignore two paths on the left and continue to a crossroads.

(6) Continue following the yellow cross markings and return to the clearing you passed on the way there, at a place called Nass Wei.

(2) Turn right (yellow ring - yellow triangle - yellow cross markings).

(1) Cross the track again, continue straight ahead and you will soon reach the starting point (S/E).

Walking shoes, drinks, clothing and protection appropriate for the weather.

Built by the Bas-Rhin Departmental Council, the Chalet du Champ du Feu is a public building offering a picnic room, exhibition spaces, public toilets, lockers, a tourist office, etc. A meeting place and starting point, it is ideally located opposite the ski shuttle drop-off point.

The Serva stream rises in the peat bogs of Champ du Feu and flows into the Rothaine at Haute-Goutte. It descends about 450 m over 7 km (6%) in a cool, wet area (hence its nicknames "Fischmatt" or "Nass Wei"). The "Fischmatt" is said to have been an ancient reservoir, supplying a mill. This mill in Champ du Feu was little used due to the poor yields of cereal crops at this altitude. If you listen carefully, you will hear the murmur of the stream becoming louder and louder.

According to legend, this stream is inhabited by the Demoiselle de la Serva, a fairy who is said to be the cause of the howling wind on the heights when she is angry. The fairy, with her clear blue eyes, dressed in a silver-scaled dress and with green hair as light as the plants at the bottom of the water, is also said to have the power to give bouquets of cornflowers.

The Col de la Perheux is a mythical place not to be missed on your next hike! This pass is as intriguing as it is awe-inspiring. Sometimes a sunny terrace offering magnificent views of the Schirgoutte valley and the Donon massif, sometimes a desert moor where the elements rage! It is said that here you may encounter a jumble of witches, spirits, treasures, luminous apparitions and more. The place leaves no one indifferent, but you be the judge! Hikes at La Perheux are available at the tourist office or on rando-bruche.fr.

According to legend, Jean, a local man who had been called up for military service, disobeyed orders and left
his garrison to join his sweetheart who had remained in the village. At the time of Napoleon's Grand Army, such unauthorised absences, considered desertion, were severely punished. Jean is said to have taken refuge in the Grotte du Déserteur (Deserter's Cave) to avoid punishment.

As you climb up to the Champ du Feu, you may notice wooden markers with punches on the side of the path. These are the markers for the four orienteering courses at the Champ du Feu. With family or friends, feel free to try this fun and athletic activity. Brochures of the courses are available at the tourist office or at bit.ly/brochuresOTVB.

The name "Champ du Feu" reflects linguistic changes throughout history. There are several possible origins for this name. One of them comes from the animals left to graze on these peaks, then called "Vieh Feld" (animal field in Alemannic German), which gradually became "champ des Vieh" and then "Champ du Feu".

Find other hiking trails on rando-bruche.fr, the hiking website of the Bruche Valley Tourist Office.