The Brénon Valley

From the valley floor, right by the Brénon, up to the top of the plateau where the view opens out onto a distant horizon, this peaceful walk offers a wide variety of landscapes.

Details

20437560
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.61 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 46 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 45 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 315 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 261 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To get to the start, turn at the Church of Saint-Blaise in Ognéville, go down Rue Saint-Blaise towards the Brénon valley. Park near the Saint-Blaise Fountain and the sewage treatment plant. A lovely spot with picnic tables.

(S/E) Walk past the sewage treatment plant, leaving the (slippery) ford on your left as you continue straight on, following the Brénon stream upstream.

(1) Take the footbridge over the stream, then turn right onto the shaded path along the Grandes Côtes. Discover the first six information panels on a route suitable for all ages, designed to highlight Ognéville’s heritage from a historical, geological, ecological and cultural perspective. Look out for the site of a waterfall (often dry), halfway before reaching Étreval.

(2) Continue straight on to the town hall, turn right, cross the bridge and follow the road uphill for about 750 m.

(3) After this short climb, take the path on the right at the top of the hill and follow the Red Rings. On the plateau, note the old Narmont farm on the left. Amidst orchards and fields, enjoy beautiful views of the Saintois region.

(4) Turn left, then immediately right at a 90° angle. You’ll come to a crossroads.

(5) Continue straight ahead.

(6) Where the path turns left to join the D5 leading to Ognéville, continue straight ahead across the meadow, which leads onto a small path lined with trees and hedges and takes you directly to the Fontaine Saint-Blaise (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 269 m - Saint-Blaise Fountain and water treatment plant - Brénon (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.25 - alt. 262 m - Footbridge
  3. 2 : km 2.18 - alt. 272 m - Étreval
  4. 3 : km 2.87 - alt. 310 m - Turn right at the top of the hill
  5. 4 : km 3.76 - alt. 309 m - Junction for the alternative route, on the left
  6. 5 : km 4.4 - alt. 308 m - Junction, straight ahead
  7. 6 : km 5.13 - alt. 311 m - Junction, straight ahead
  8. S/E : km 5.61 - alt. 270 m - Saint-Blaise Fountain and water treatment plant

Notes

Picnic tables at the start/finish point and between (4) and (6).
Numerous fountains in Étreval.

(2) Alternative route 1: one kilometre shorter and avoids a section of road. Turn right, cross the Brénon via the footbridge, head up through the woodland and go directly to (4).

(2) Alternative 2: continue straight on through the village to admire the façade of Étreval Castle, a unique monument and the sole surviving example of the Early Lorraine Renaissance (private property). Turn back towards the Town Hall and rejoin the route on the left.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
BISONFUTE76
BISONFUTE76

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This short route is ideal for warming up, starting with a steep incline, followed by a very pleasant walk along the ridge, although you may lose your bearings towards the end of the first half of the route.
The second half was slippery and dangerous throughout the entire route due to the torrential rain.
It was still a good choice, though.

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potamo
potamo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The waterfall was dry despite the heavy rain over the previous few days
Don’t always rely on the shortcut: the Entreval ford is impassable when the Brénon is swollen.
A very pleasant walk; the Val du Brénon is truly lovely

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ac92
ac92

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely spot well worth exploring on this short, easy walk. A few information boards add an interesting educational dimension.
Worth doing again, perhaps extending it a little, as Christecol has done.

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Christecol
Christecol

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

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

A lovely afternoon walk, which I extended slightly via Vroncourt and Vézelise along marked paths. The waterfall was dry, but that’s to be expected, as explained on an information board nearby: The waterfall is not active all year round. The water that feeds it comes exclusively from the catchment area just above, where rainwater is held back by an impermeable layer of clay. The water then runs off towards the Brénon through the woods. Before reaching the river, the water has to pass over a small cliff, which creates the waterfall.
Did you say catchment area?
A catchment area is a zone which, due to its specific topography, allows rainwater and runoff to be channelled towards a common body of water (lake, ocean, river, etc.).

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