The Drince Tower from Fond-Saint-Martin

Hilly hike on the Côte de Drince with the Drince Tower and its spectacular view as the main attraction.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.64 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 258 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 257 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 401 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 209 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Rombas (57120)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.240444° / E 6.078286°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3312E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

To reach the starting point, from the D181, take the Rombas exit, keep right at the roundabout and turn right again at the next crossroads. Pass under the D181 and the starting point is behind the Rombas football stadium (Fond-Saint-Martin Leisure Area).

(S/E) Pass between the small pond and the tourist office and head towards the outdoor exercise equipment. Continue along the path to the left of the equipment. Follow the blue round markings.

(1) Pass the equestrian centre below and turn right at the three-way junction. Enter the forest on a sloping path. Pass under a power line and then leave theGR®5.

(2) After passing hillsides covered with wild garlic, turn onto a small path on the left, crossing the slope known as "Chevitue". Continue for 1.8 km to the foot of the climb leading to the Drince Tower.

(3) Turn right to rejoin theGR®5on the fairly steep zigzag path that leads directly to the tower.

(4) Continue along this path, which follows the heights of the Côte de Drince. You will reach marker 5 of the Office National des Forêts.

(5) Leave theGR® here and turn right onto the straight downhill slope to the valley.

(6) Turn right when the descent is no longer possible. Continue to a fork with three possible paths. Take the middle path and continue to Les Roches.

(7) Climb up the steep slope on the right to this prehistoric site.
Return to the main path and continue to the right until you reach a fork under a power line. Turn left, then right at the next hairpin bend to reach the leisure centre and the lake.

(8) Walk along the lake to return to the Rombas stadium car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 210 m - Rombas Stadium car park
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 225 m - Towards the forest
  3. 2 : km 1.02 - alt. 323 m - Chevitue junction
  4. 3 : km 1.96 - alt. 333 m - Drince climb
  5. 4 : km 2.19 - alt. 378 m - Tour de Drince
  6. 5 : km 4.19 - alt. 376 m - End of ridge
  7. 6 : km 4.88 - alt. 290 m - Vallon
  8. 7 : km 6.01 - alt. 279 m - Les Roches
  9. 8 : km 7.26 - alt. 224 m - Lake
  10. S/E : km 7.64 - alt. 211 m - Rombas Stadium car park

Notes

Toilets and snack bar just after the stadium.

Worth a visit

Option to climb the Drince Tower (4).
Children's playground at the leisure centre.
Nearby: Amnéville Zoo, Snowhall indoor ski centre, Walygator amusement park.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 27319286

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There are so many possible routes that are very close to each other, with forks in the path, and the red markings are not always clear enough and the written instructions are unclear at times. This is particularly true at Les Roches, which is actually a fairly difficult round trip for people with children, animals or poor equipment, especially the descent back to the main path. It would be better to warn people that this is optional and difficult

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Helmbacher Michel
Helmbacher Michel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No


Hello, everyone!
The walker is sometimes unaware of it, but the gods are at his side, walking tirelessly in his shadow. Every space in a forest, valley, mountain, river or lake is under the influence of the spirit of the place, which ensures hospitality for some and repels others. Upon entering their domain, walkers are often overcome with a particular emotion, feeling attraction or repulsion, wonder or terror. And these places are not neutral, much less empty; they are always inhabited by those who know how to feel them...
This time, we will remind you and give you a quick overview of the 11 observation towers built by a local association of the large Club Vosgien family at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, which were but which are still intended for hikers to enjoy breathtaking 360° panoramic views of the surrounding area, which often take your breath away after climbing up there, I will take you to discover the one that I myself had never approached before, except through images or photos... i'm talking about the TOUR de DRINCE, near Rombas.
It wasn't exactly next door, as they say, but it was well worth the trip. Come with me on a circular route marked "anneau bleu" (blue ring) by the Club Vosgien de Rombas-Vallée de l'Orne, to discover the Tour de Drince and the archaeological and prehistoric site "Les Roches".
Have a great summer of walks, everyone!
Michel Helmbacher
2025.07.13 Rombas Fond-St-Martin/Drince Tower/Les Roches prehistoric site "Google photos"
https://photos.app.goo.gl/S9w9bmT2VZMTLj...

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User 9989620

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A bit muddy and not very well marked

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fdigne
fdigne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I walk through the forest very often and know the route described well. I have two pieces of information to add to the description: At point 1, the power line no longer exists (the lines were buried at the request of Amnévile, see article in RL 8/11/2019).

About 600 m before point 5, just before altitude 390, you cross an earth embankment, the remains of the fence of a Celtic oppidum that bars the entire hillside (at this point, if you take the path that descends to the west, you will quickly find the menhir of La Pierre qui Tourne).

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nolive73
nolive73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, best done in fine, dry weather, partly because the paths can be very muddy in autumn or winter, and partly because this forest (mainly composed of beautiful beech trees) is magnificent when it is green and dense, and the sun's rays really show it off to its best advantage.
I didn't climb to the top of the Drince Tower, probably out of laziness, but I imagine the view from the top must be very nice...
Thanks to Bertrand for sharing.

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sabetnono
sabetnono

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We went hiking in beautiful sunshine, thankfully! To say it's easy, perhaps in summer. The route is mainly through the woods, but it was very muddy and there were lots of fallen trees due to Thursday's storm. There were lots of climbs, but what a reward when we reached the tower! The view from the top was magnificent, with beautiful sunshine and trees ablaze with autumn colours! It was a lovely walk nonetheless 😊

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