The Circuit des Pierres et des Étangs (Stone and Pond Trail) starting from Raddon-et-Chapendu

This circuit invites you to discover the natural and human heritage of the Vosges Saônoises. Scattered dwellings, crosses, fountains, chalots, lava roofs, typical farms, lavière and bread ovens line the route. Majestic forests, magical ponds, erratic boulders and cherry orchards transport you to a world where nature reigns supreme. Take the time to explore and soak up this unique atmosphere, perfect for meditation.

Details

20070246
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.25 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 250 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 257 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 497 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 350 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Raddon-et-Chapendu gymnasium, heading towards Fougerolles.

The route is marked with yellow rings.

(S/E) Take the path that climbs behind the gymnasium and continue through the forest to the Étang de Trésurier.

(1) Keep to the right, pass in front of the pond and continue until you reach the Pierre du Mouton.

(2) Retrace your steps and take the path opposite. Continue straight ahead to reach the Pierre de la Miche.

(3) Take the path on the left and at the next crossroads, turn right at a 90° angle to reach the Étang de la Rémolure.

(4) Follow the dyke on the left, continue along the path and pass an old wash house. At the edge of the woods, turn left and then reach the D18 road. Continue to the right until you reach the crossroads of a grassy path before the hamlet of Les Forges.

(5) Take this path on the left and walk along the edge of the Bois-Lamaisement woods. Then pass the hamlet of La Grosse Grange and a few metres further on you will come to a crossroads with four perpendicular paths. At this point, you can shorten the route by 4 km by going via Chapendu.

(6) Turn right and at the next crossroads marked by a cross, turn left to enter the forest. Continue along the wide track, follow the almost straight section and, after a left-hand bend, you will reach a crossroads.

(7) Turn left, then first turn left then right. Cross the forest road, then at thesecond crossroads, turn left and continue until you reach the tarmac road.

(8) Continue straight ahead in a northerly direction, cross a small stream and you will come to a Y-shaped crossroads.

(9) Turn right at almost 180° and head towards the hamlet of La Cubette.

(10) Continue to the right, cross the meadow, enter the forest again and you will reach the ponds at a place called La Calechot.

(11) Continue through the forest until you reach the D18 at the entrance to Raddon-et-Chapendu.

(12) Turn left and follow the road to the gymnasium car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 362 m - Gymnasium car park - Raddon de Saint-Bresson (rivière) - Affluent du Rhône par le Breuchin
  2. 1 : km 2.04 - alt. 477 m - Right - Étang Tresurier
  3. 2 : km 2.34 - alt. 472 m - Pierre du Mouton
  4. 3 : km 3.55 - alt. 492 m - Pierre de la Miche
  5. 4 : km 4.47 - alt. 476 m - Étang de la Remoulure
  6. 5 : km 5.77 - alt. 436 m - Route D18
  7. 6 : km 6.94 - alt. 457 m - La Grosse Grange
  8. 7 : km 9.89 - alt. 362 m - Crossroads after bend
  9. 8 : km 11.73 - alt. 400 m - Road junction
  10. 9 : km 12.85 - alt. 438 m - Y-junction
  11. 10 : km 13.59 - alt. 435 m - La Cubette
  12. 11 : km 14.28 - alt. 432 m - Pond in a place called Le Calechot
  13. 12 : km 15.34 - alt. 351 m - Route D18 - Raddon-et-Chapendu
  14. S/E : km 16.25 - alt. 362 m - Gymnasium car park

Notes

(6) You can shorten the route by turning opposite to pass through the hamlet of Chapendu, continuing along the road and reaching the crossroads at (8).

Worth a visit

(2) La Pierre du Mouton: this 80 cm high block has inscriptions and large gouges. According to legend, rams were thrown against this stone and killed.

(3) La Pierre de la Miche: on this stone, you can make out three imprints: a loaf of bread, a bottle and a foot. According to local tradition, Saint Columbanus ate his snack here.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Claude L2.
Claude L2.

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It seems as though the author drew part of the route on a map... Fortunately, the yellow circle markings save the day.
The biggest hiccup is at point (11): the pond is invisible (but you can hear the frogs ), and more importantly, there is no signpost indicating to turn right. In fact, 200 metres before this point (11), you need to go straight ahead instead of turning left.
Otherwise, it's a pleasant walk, with beautiful forests and a peaceful atmosphere, even if the return journey is a bit long.
Why not park in the town centre? There are plenty of large car parks, and you can "eat up" the kilometre of tarmac in the cool of the morning rather than having to do it at the end of the walk.

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T0urmaline
T0urmaline

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

This route isn't particularly interesting, except for giving your legs a good workout. The path was particularly slippery and even muddy in places.
The description left us wondering. Could it be the description of the short route? This hike is actually the long one.
Fortunately, the signposts and GPX allowed us to follow the right path. Once we put the sheet away, no more worries!

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nathmel70@gmail.com
nathmel70@gmail.com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, well marked... but a few hiccups at the end...
Almost entirely forest and no one in sight, just how I like it.

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frafre
frafre

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike through beautiful forests. Very little walking on paved roads.

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Christecol
Christecol

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A magnificent trail through this eco-certified deciduous forest. Nature truly reigns supreme here! It's so peaceful, which is rare enough to be worth mentioning (no chainsaws, hunters or other noises). I extended the route a little to the Morbief pond without any particular difficulty, and it seems to me that the GPS route no longer follows the yellow circle in some places.
I invite all hikers to discover Haute-Saône, which is a somewhat neglected region.

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doumeg
doumeg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The starting point is a bit sad.
The stones, the wash house and the ponds are interesting.

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randoviso17
randoviso17

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

We really enjoyed the course: a rest area in beautiful, well-maintained forests, not very busy, far from any activity, allowing us to enjoy the silence.
there were two uncertainties about the route, which will be corrected by the local managers who maintain the route and whom we met on our return to the gymnasium.
There was always a slight difference in distance between Visorando and the data on my watch and GPS (18.3 km instead of 16.37 km) and 350 m elevation gain instead of 239 m. (Number of points recorded)

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