The Pré des Loups Trail: Felon – Saint-Germain-le-Châtelet – Romagny

Car park in front of the town hall in Felon.
The route is marked by a Green Ring.

(S/E) Head left towards the south-east along the main road (Rue de l’Eglise) for 50m.
Turn left, heading due east, onto a stony path (Rue de l'Etang). After 300m, turn onto the path on the left.

(1) When you reach the road (Rue du Chénois), follow it to the left for 100m and take the first right (Rue du Bambois). Continue for 1km

(2) Keep a close eye on the signposts to turn left. You will reach the D25.

(3) Walk along it on the right for 800m, taking care.

(4) Turn left onto Rue de Schwyr. Walk alongside some lovely ponds. You’ll see a shelter on your right. Continue straight ahead, passing three forest tracks on your right. Walk alongside a slope that hides an old quarry on the left and reach a tarmac road leading to the recycling centre.

(5) Follow it to the left. Continue along this road and enter the forest.

(6) Turn left onto the path which begins a descent. 50m further on, at the crossroads, turn right and start climbing again. The signposting is very helpful.
200m further on, continue to the right, follow the ridge and descend to reach a turning area for forestry workers. There is a shelter on the left.

(7) Ignore the two paths on the right and continue straight on. 100m further on, turn left and then, a little further on, left again onto a small path.

(8) After 200m, turn right. Pass to the north of an old open-cast quarry with a vertical cliff face about thirty metres high. The site is protected by a wire fence. Approach the edges with caution only. Risk of falling. You’ll reach a crossroads.

(9) Keep a close eye on the signposts and turn left. Continue descending slowly, curving to the right.
You will reach the D25 road.

(10) Walk along it on the left with care. 200m further on (altitude 403m), turn right onto the D27 road leading to Felon. Cross the Margrabant and arrive at the starting car park (S/E).

Start: car park in front of the town hall next to the church. Address: 12 Rue de l’Église, 90110 Felon.
You can also start the circular walk from the following car parks:

(2) An alternative route is possible by continuing straight on. Walk alongside the Étang Charbonnière and reach the D25 road, where you rejoin our route directly opposite at point (4). Waste collection centre, at point (4) in the description above. Address: Rue Terre qui Tourne, 90110 Rougemont-le-Château.
Romagny School and Town Hall, 40 Rue des Vosges, 90110 Romagny-sous-Rougemont

Visorando was provided with information by Mr Chevalley, a volunteer member of Balisage90.
This walk was created by the Southern Vosges Community of Communes.

Felon.
Its inhabitants are known as Felonais.
Place names. Uurlon/Vurlon and Furlon (1235–41), Villae Volim (1350), Foulon (1565–1585), Füolon (1579), Daz dorf Fullon/Follon (1628)
First mentioned in 1227, the village was part of the seigneury of Rougemont and the parish of Angeot until 1767, when it was attached to that of Saint-Germain-le-Châtelet.
In the 13th century, the provincial count Otton II became Count of Habsburg. Felon is the fief of the De Felon family. Felon was mentioned in 1227 under the name ‘Vuolon’, as well as under two other names: ‘Furlon’ between 1235 and 1241 and ‘Foulon’ between 1565 and 1585. It was from this date onwards that the village’s name changed to Felon.
One theory regarding the origin of the village’s name is that a fulling mill once stood on this site. This hamlet belonged to the Imperial House of Austria until 1648, when it became the property of the Kingdom of France.
The church, dedicated to Saint Anthony, was built in several stages. It was originally a chapel built without a chancel or bell tower. In 1767, when Felon became a vicariate of Saint-Germain, the church was remodelled and then provided with a chancel in 1774, the year inscribed on the external keystone of a window. It was not until 1836 that a bell tower was built there. It was only in 1833 that an ordinance by King Louis-Philippe I officially recognised the parish’s autonomy.
Source: Wikipedia:

Romagny-sous-Rougemont.
Place names: Esche (1565–1585), Welschennest (1579), Weltschnest (1620), Romagny (1793), Romagny-sous-Rougemont (1933). In German: Welschennes
Before 1648, when the seigneury of Rougemont left the possessions of the Holy Roman Empire to join the Duchy of Mazarin, the village was known by the Germanised names Esche, Eschon or Welschenesch. Having been part of the parish of Angeot until the 16th century, the village was attached to the parish of Rougemont, which was established at that time.
Source: Wikipedia: