The Monumental Cross of Montdahin and Béviau

Circular route on the plateau between Faucogney and Saint-Bresson. You will discover some of the thousand ponds, several calvaries including the Monumental Cross of Montdahin, a few hamlets, vestiges of the past (farm ruins) and new and beautiful views following the damage to the forest caused by the bark beetle. Please note that this is an unmarked route, using paths and small tarmac roads with no heavy traffic.

Details

n°20292585

Creation:
20 Mar 2022

Last update:
23 May 2023

Last review:
04 Aug 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 12.55 km
Average duration: 4h 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 191 m
Descent: - 191 m
Highest point: 638 m
Lowest point: 498 m

Country: France
Areas: Vosges mountains, Plateau des Mille Étangs
District: Amont-et-Effreney (70310)
Start/End: N 47.855372° / E 6.531876°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3519OT, 3520O
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Photos

Path between piles of stone gathered from fields

Description of the walk

Park at the Freugevin crossroads opposite the calvary. Space for two vehicles.

(S/E) Head towards Étang du Moulin and continue to the first intersection.

(1) Turn right towards Ès Côtes. Pass between two ponds, continue on and then descend to reach Ès Côtes. Note the calvary and the ruins of a farm.

(2) Turn left after the small house and continue to the end of the tarmac road, then follow the path which, after a small pond, turns right towards Ès Voivres. Note the old school.

(3) Turn left towards the chapel, which you can see from this spot. Leave the road on the right to reach the chapel. It is beautifully maintained and you can visit the interior. (Make sure you close the door behind you).

(4) Continue along the small road and note the calvary dating from 1611 at Chauversey. At the end of the tarmac road, take the path on the left.

(5) Continue along the small road. As you pass, note the monumental cross of Montdahin, on which six figures are carved.

(6) (Alternative route possible, see Practical Information). Stay on the road, pass to the right of the Étang de Faideaugrave lake towards Effreney, with lovely views on the right.

(7) At the entrance to Effreney, turn left, then left again towards Béviau.

(8) Pass to the right of the Béviau farm, then turn south towards the ruins of the convent. Note the ruins of the old convent farm on the left as you descend. Join a road.

(9) Take the road towards Les Mottots, which you will cross straight ahead, towards Le Petit Étang, and continue to a crossroads.

(10) Turn left, then right to cross the bridge and head back up towards the road you took on the way there.

(1) Turn right towards the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 556 m - Freugevin crossroads (calvary)
1 : km 0.43 - alt. 564 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
2 : km 1.56 - alt. 498 m - Ès Côte
3 : km 3.06 - alt. 541 m - Ès Voivres
4 : km 3.66 - alt. 549 m - Chapelle d'Es Voivre
5 : km 4.83 - alt. 597 m - Road junction
6 : km 5.54 - alt. 615 m - Alternative option - Croix Monumentale du Montdahin (610m)
7 : km 7.7 - alt. 613 m - Effreney
8 : km 8.37 - alt. 628 m - Béviau
9 : km 9.78 - alt. 564 m - Road junction
10 : km 11.56 - alt. 540 m - Crossing path
S/E : km 12.55 - alt. 557 m - Freugevin crossroads (calvary)

Notes

The route is not marked. Follow the GPS track carefully; an IGN map is essential. Some difficulties may arise after the passage of forestry machinery, as the forest has been affected by bark beetles and needs to be reforested.
As a result, many landscapes have been uncovered, revealing beautiful views.

:6:: At this point, you can turn right to go directly to the Étang de Faideaugrave lake. The path is passable for the first part but damaged and difficult to access at the end due to the passage of forestry machinery. The forest has disappeared at this point, leaving an open landscape that offers a beautiful view of the Breuchin valley and the Ballon de Servance.

Worth a visit

The Mountain Museum is worth a visit in Château-Lambert. It is located 26 km from the starting point of the hike. To get there, you will cross the Plateau des Mille Étangs, which will give you a good overview of this region. At the museum, you will discover the habitat and way of life of the inhabitants of this region at the beginning of the last century. An old farm has been reconstructed, as well as an outdoor trail retracing the old trades of this region.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5

Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

S BOEHRER

04 Aug 2025 at 10:32 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike. No difficulties. Lots of shaded areas. Almost half of the route is on small paved roads.
We followed point 6 as indicated on the app and were rewarded with beautiful views of the high Vosges mountains.
We took the opportunity to pick 2 kg of blackberries, as the route is lined with numerous bushes and mulberry trees.
And what a treat to have a snack at the Béviau farm, which is a remarkable place.

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randonneur 70

28 May 2025 at 21:23 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is brilliant.

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le saut de bonneille

10 Mar 2025 at 10:17 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A major difficulty in getting to the starting point by car
Visorando's GPS took us down a road that was unsuitable for the car
We had to park 1 km before the start and, on top of that, the road was closed at one point due to a landslide
It was a shame because we had to shorten the hike as it would have been too long for an afternoon
This drawback needs to be addressed

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JEEPETOS

27 May 2024 at 19:49 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nothing to report

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Pedro49

05 Sep 2023 at 21:48 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

You really need to have a GPS and keep an eye on the map at all times.
Beautiful hike
Your hike
P. GRAVELEAU

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irma70

02 May 2022 at 18:23 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the hills above St Bresson. Difficult to find the starting point as the car's satnav doesn't recognise Freugevin, but otherwise no problems for the hike with a satnav or map. At point 6, take the alternative route to discover some superb landscapes that would be a shame to miss. A little too much road for my liking from point 5 to point 7, but at least there isn't too much traffic. In summary, a beautiful hike that must be done with a GPS or IGN map, otherwise you will get lost as the explanations provided are not sufficient.

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Pierrot DAVID

15 Apr 2022 at 11:24 7200 • Edited: 17 Apr 2022 at 09:21 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in a quiet and relaxing area. Very little disturbs the tranquillity of the surroundings. (We only encountered one car and a woodcutter). Some of the trails are purely bucolic, lined with piles of stone gathered from fields or flower beds. The well-maintained ponds add to the charm. This hike allows you to discover the typical character of our region, the plateau of a thousand ponds. Admittedly, logging work has left some trails cluttered, but nevertheless without any major difficulties.
For the alternative route at point 6, after 350 metres there is no longer a path, so you have to turn back, but it is advisable to go there as the view of the Vosges mountains is stunning (Drumont, Ballon de Servance, Planche des Belles Filles, etc.).
While there is plenty of water available for our dogs (ponds and streams), the same cannot be said for hikers. It is therefore advisable to take precautions when it comes to drinks. For a break, the hunters' shelter after the Montdahin cross offers tables and benches.
Personally, I combined this hike with the equally enjoyable Béviau route. I will soon be proposing a 19 km hike called the Calvary Route for those who wish to hike for the day. Thank you to Scrog_fr for this suggestion.

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Departure from Raddon-et-Chapendu (Haute-Saône)

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Departure from Raddon-et-Chapendu (Haute-Saône)

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Departure from Breuchotte (Haute-Saône)

Hike in the hills above the village of Breuchotte, passing through the heart of the forest, then near ponds and the Breuchin river. Some beautiful views to discover. A steep climb at the start.

The Esmoulières route via La Saulotte

Departure from Esmoulières (Haute-Saône)

As you wander along old paths and small roads, you will enjoy a landscape of moors, meadows and forests interspersed with streams and ponds. You will pass through small hamlets with houses characteristic of the Plateau des 1000 Étangs. A remarkable and unique natural heritage to discover.

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For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.

Author

Scrog_fr
2 Walks

Visorando member

District: Saint-Barthélemy (70270)

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