The Malzéville Plateau tour

A pleasant route on the Malzéville Plateau at the Porte de Nancy, offering a change of scenery while skirting around an aerodrome. The circuit features a variety of natural environments, with sections through woods, along the edge of woods, and across grassy fields and moorland.

Details

n°3427454
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.35 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 203 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 207 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,257 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,063 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(Start/Finish) Take the correct path heading north-west. Shortly afterwards, at a junction (with a picnic table set back to the left), take the narrow path in the middle opposite. It heads towards the woods, then turns left and enters the woods. Atthe first junction in the woods, turn right. At the following junctions, go straight on. Walk alongside the fence of an aerial mounting point.

(1) At the end, follow a wide path to the left (west). Ignore a turn-off on the left and head north-west.

(2) At the crossroads, first turn right then left to follow a forest track that runs alongside a cleared area on the left, in a sort of clearing. Pass a memorial stone honouring two non-commissioned officers of the 26th Infantry Regiment and continue north-north-west along the wide forest track. The track eventually turns right and exits the woods.

(3) At the junction in the middle of the moor, take the path on the left, which slopes gently downwards (beautiful views towards Bouxières-aux-Dames). You’ll come to a junction with a signpost.

(4) Turn right (east) onto a path completely overgrown with grass in the middle of a large field. A little further on, the path becomes more visible and curves to the right (south-east). Further on, the path approaches the woodland and turns left. Walk between the woodland on your left and an electric fence.

(5) At the T-junction, take the path on the left (north-west). Shortly afterwards, at a Fork in the road, take the path on the right, heading due north. Further on, the path curves to the left (north-west).

(6) At the crossroads, turn sharply right. Head up the gently sloping heathland towards the south-east. Stay on the main path, which leads to a grassy clearing and approaches a wood, heading towards what appears to be a corner of the clearing.

(7) Cross a strip of woodland for a few metres to reach another clearing. Stay on the main path, which heads south and crosses a strip of woodland about thirty metres wide before emerging into a new clearing. The path turns left immediately: stay at the edge of the woodland, heading south-east. Then turn right at the edge of the Bois de Flavémont. Stay at the edge, keeping the aerodrome grounds on your right.

(8) At the Butte Sainte-Geneviève car park, first turn right then left to take a path that runs between two concrete blocks. Cross a clearing (picnic tables) to reach a path through the woods lined with wooden posts. Follow this path through the Bois des Carrières. Continue along this main path until you reach an area where the woodland opens out and there is a crossroads.

(9) Turn left to reach the Dommartemont orientation board. Retrace your steps.

(9) Carry on straight ahead (north-west). The path winds its way. At a junction, turn right. At the next junction, turn right again. When you reach a fence on your left, take the steps on the left, running alongside this protected area. At the top, go straight on, passing a tennis court. At the junction, first turn left then right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,135 ft - Plateau car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.37 - alt. 1,204 ft - Junction
  3. 2 : mi 0.53 - alt. 1,178 ft - Crossroads
  4. 3 : mi 1 - alt. 1,165 ft - Crossroads
  5. 4 : mi 1.51 - alt. 1,079 ft - Crossroads – Signpost
  6. 5 : mi 2.09 - alt. 1,102 ft - T-junction
  7. 6 : mi 2.56 - alt. 1,063 ft - Crossroads of five paths
  8. 7 : mi 3.22 - alt. 1,152 ft - Crossroads
  9. 8 : mi 4.48 - alt. 1,181 ft - T-junction
  10. 9 : mi 4.97 - alt. 1,132 ft - Access to the orientation table
  11. S/E : mi 5.35 - alt. 1,135 ft - Plateau car park

Notes

The car park is located at the Plateau de Malzéville car park. Please note that there is another car park at point (8) (west of Sainte-Geneviève and north of Montbois). The two are linked by the Chemin du Pain de Sucre, which is closed to traffic.

This walk across varied terrain requires sturdy footwear.

This route is only very partially signposted. Consequently, it is advisable to follow the directions in this description and on the map, whilst also taking note of the surrounding landscape. Distance markers from the starting point, or even the GPS coordinates of waypoints (including the start), can also help hikers find their way.
Using a GPS device or a smartphone with the Visorando app can help walkers find their way. This route, whilst not difficult, crosses numerous paths which can be misleading, even though some of them rejoin further on. There are other paths, particularly in the woods around the plateau. The suggested route offers beautiful panoramic views, hence the choice of walking along the edge of the woods or across the moorland.

Alternative route: From point (8), it is possible to return directly to the car park by taking the Pain de Sucre path, which is closed to traffic. The route is then 7.9 km long.

Walk completed by the author on 21 June 2020

Worth a visit

Malzéville Plateau
A calcareous steppe on the outskirts of Nancy
The Malzéville Plateau is a landform situated mainly within the commune of Malzéville, in the department of Meurthe-et-Moselle, to the north-east of the Nancy conurbation.
Covering an area of 557 hectares (including the plateau and the Sainte-Geneviève hill), the plateau – which is predominantly covered in coniferous woodland – is classified as a Site of Community Importance. Its Natura 2000-designated area covers 439 hectares. It rises to an altitude of 384 metres.
The climate of the Malzéville plateau is broadly the same as that of the department as a whole; however, due to its altitude, the winds are generally stronger there than on the plains and snowfall is much more pronounced; in winter, it is not uncommon for the plateau to be covered in several centimetres of snow whilst the surrounding lowlands remain snow-free.
A remnant hill remains to the south-east of the plateau: Sainte-Geneviève Hill (361 metres).

Several streams have their source on the Malzéville plateau.
The Rouaux stream (2.4 km) flows from the south-east of the plateau, initially eastwards before curving northwards, passing through Agincourt and joining the Amezule.
The Ronchère rises in the north-west of the plateau, flows northwards through a fairly steep ravine thirty to forty metres deep and joins the Meurthe further down. This stream often runs dry during dry spells.

The Malzéville plateau has been inhabited since Neolithic times, as evidenced by the presence of primitive tools and pottery.
Its location became strategically important for the defence of Nancy following the War of 1870. The border with the annexed region of Alsace-Lorraine was only fourteen kilometres away. The plateau was used as a military airfield until 1926, when it was replaced by Nancy-Essey Airport. It was on the Malzéville plateau, on 14 November 1915, that the President of the Republic, Raymond Poincaré, solemnly presented the flag of the Military Air Force to the army – an emblem which, on that day, together with the flag of the Military Balloon Corps, replaced a single flag ‘which the Government of the Republic had assigned in 1912 to all military aviation troops’.
The plateau served as a manoeuvring ground for the Army, and is now a leisure area.
On 19 April 2015, a forest fire ravaged between 6 and 10 hectares, mainly consisting of windfall timber and scrub, but the fire did manage to spread into the pine forest.

It is one of the largest limestone grasslands in Lorraine. It is home to the Festuco-Lemanii Bromeîum and Onobrychido-Brometum communities, as well as rare and protected species such as Sieglingio-Brachypodietum, common fumana, Haller’s sedge, perfoliate chickweed, common spirea, burnt orchid, stemless primrose, the white violet and false senna.

The plateau is home to the Marie Marvingt microlight flying club and the Grand Nancy gliding club. These clubs facilitate microlight and gliding activities, whether supervised or independent, on the three grass runways available.

The Malzéville transmitter, standing 215 metres high, is situated to the south of the plateau and broadcasts radio and digital terrestrial television (DTT).
Find out more
Source: Wikipedia

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 23 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 29493830

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A farmer has erected an electric fence along the footpath for about 500 metres. Walkers have to climb over the fence several times to continue along the path. Several signs have been torn down.

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User 10771396
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,

It’s a pleasant, easy walk. At the weekend, there are quite a few cyclists and dogs out and about on the plateau. We went when it was windy, which wasn’t very pleasant. It’s best to go when the weather is fine.
We came across some cows, a flock of sheep and goats, and we even saw some gliders taking off.

There’s a lovely viewpoint at marker 9.

There’s also a large car park at the start.

Enjoy the walk 👍

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mirande.jules.
mirande.jules.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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Majorelle1
Majorelle1

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Deserves a little more guidance

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thierry.david54
thierry.david54

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very interesting.

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Cosilb
Cosilb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike, easy to access and very simple to follow with the Visorando route.

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Nad54000
Nad54000

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk, shame it rained but still enjoyable, very beautiful scenery

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RAVIGOTE
RAVIGOTE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant route. Beautiful view of Nancy. What's more, the sun was shining...

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Aude1354
Aude1354

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done on 30 December in thick fog and snow. And yet very pleasant! A breath of fresh air and a good walk

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noelleclaudine
noelleclaudine

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike but some paths are non-existent

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fanfan
fanfan

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
Sorry, but we didn't need Visorando to do this route.
It is very well marked on the ground and offers two versions, one 8 km long and one 11 km long.
Signs present and explain the two routes and their attractions, as well as the prohibition of shortcuts that would involve crossing the aerodrome runways.
Due to an injury, we settled for the 8 km route, which is very pleasant and dotted with orchids

I have just read the previous comments and it is true that some of the markings are on posts, which can be hidden by tall grass. This is worth noting.

Thank you

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Claraazimut
Claraazimut

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

I did this hike very early in the morning with my dog during a rainy period. The path was easily passable, with no mud.
The views at various points along the way are lovely. An easy hike.

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François VERNIER
François VERNIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A circuit with no particular difficulties and well signposted for most of the route.

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slhuilli
slhuilli

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

well, it's still a utility file, so it's difficult to judge!

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Angèle 2
Angèle 2

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, exotic hike just a stone's throw from Nancy. Sometimes vast fields of grass alongside the glider runway and telecommunications antenna, sometimes pine forests and woodlands. The short loop is well marked with posts at the start, but due to the tall grass (May 2023), the paths were no longer visible. The posts were either hidden by the grass or non-existent. Thank goodness for Visorando's GPS, which helped me find my way back to the loop.
The icing on the cake was that I met an English couple who were a little lost, and we walked together. A very good afternoon.

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