The Pierre du Loup and the Pierre Tremblante

Parking is available near the church in Orbey.

(S/E) Opposite the church, turn right down a narrow lane which climbs steeply and passes in front of a large, light-coloured building. A sign indicates a ‘Blue Saltire’ trail. Turn left onto the path and follow it to the first junction.

(1) A sign points to the Pierre du Loup. There are several junctions on this climb. Follow the signposts for the Pierre du Loup very carefully. Before you reach it, first pass through the hamlet of Pierre du Loup, then, on leaving the hamlet, turn left into the woods, continuing to follow the signposts for the Pierre du Loup and the Blue Rectangle and White Rectangle markings. Shortly afterwards, you will reach the Pierre du Loup.

(2) Continue along the path until you reach a crossroads in the woods. Join the Blue Rectangle markings of^{the GR®531}towards La Pierre Tremblante. Follow the Blue Rectangle markings, first through the woods, then along a forest track leading to meadows, and finally to a major crossroads

(3) Turn left onto the path which climbs through the woods (still marked with Blue Rectangles) and leads to the Pierre Tremblante.

(4) The path then begins a gentle descent and reaches a junction with forest tracks (elevation 879). Ignore these, leave the^GR®531and turn right onto a path that descends through the woods, marked with Blue Rectangles and White Rectangles. Further down, cross the first track and continue straight on until you reach the next track (elevation 741).

(5) Turn right and follow the Yellow Ring markings for 350 m. At the Fork in the road, take the path leading down to the left. It gradually turns northwards to reach the hamlet of La Mossure.

(6) Follow the track leaving La Mossure heading north, which leads to a Y-junction (small tarmac roads). Take the road uphill to the right. After a superb view of the valley to the left, at the edge of a woodland, a path marked with a Blue Rectangle – the^GR®531– crosses the road. Take this path downhill to the left. It leads to the hamlet of La Grande Vallée.

(7) Continue down the slope along a sunken path with lovely views of Orbey. This path leads to Orbey, but to return to the starting point without going along the road, it is best to head back up to the right along the small path marked with a Blue Saltire, which joins a Blue and White Rectangle signpost. Follow it to the left until you reach the descent towards Rue de l’Église. Turn right and return to the starting point (S/E).

There is a car park below the church.
There are also restaurants and shops in Orbey.
There are no places to eat during the walk.

Understanding the Club Vosgien trail markings.

The Pierre Tremblante is composed of sandstone eroded by the combined effects of rain, sun, frost and wind.
It is said that this stone was used by our ancestors as a place of worship. In the Middle Ages, it also served as a ‘judgement stone’, signifying God’s judgement. The accused had to make the stone move. If they succeeded, God would prove their innocence. You can have a go to find out whether the executioner will come for you!
Along the way, the numerous holes and remains of fortifications and shelters serve as a reminder of the Battle of the Linge, which claimed many lives between February and October 1915.