The two Ballons - Fresse-sur-Moselle

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A big let-down – 80% of the route is along a forest track, so it’s not really worth it otherwise.
3 highlights:
- the quick stop at Ballon de Servance: a top-notch chalet and a campsite with an exceptional view of Saint-Maurice, but for those on the move, this highlight will only last 30 minutes
- Ballon d’Alsace, passing along the ‘cliffs’ and enjoying the 360° panoramic viewpoint: I didn’t understand why the route avoids the highlight of the area?
- And the final stretch, descending steeply before the paragliding school’s landing area, where the view is idyllic as you follow this path

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Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike for experienced walkers, offering the chance to explore the Ballon de Servance and its blueberry fields at this time of year, followed by the Ballon d'Alsace – which was unfortunately shrouded in mist on 1 August!
As for the route, I would definitely recommend following it with a GPS as the signposting is generally inadequate.
I think it’s a shame not to go via the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace if you follow the author’s route exactly.
A hike rightly classified as difficult, as the paths taken are sometimes steep! Best done in good weather.

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Date of your route : Jul 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I can fully confirm the details provided by Michaël – they really do make the walk easier! I also took the opportunity during the walk to climb up to the Ballon d'Alsace (it would be a shame to miss it).

The only thing missing to complete the guide are the landmarks to follow; here are the main ones:
Start at the church square; follow the red circle markings to the Longeligoutte shelter (2).
At 3, the GR7: follow the white and red rectangle to La Jumenterie (end of 6). Note that the green rectangle overlaps this route (particularly for the climb to Ballon de Servance).
To descend from La Jumenterie (7), follow the Red Disc.
To climb to the Chalet du Vallon (9), follow the Yellow Triangle.
To descend to Fresse-sur-Moselle (10), follow the Blue Rectangle.

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Hello,

Thank you for your detailed comments.

This information has been passed on to the author of the walk.

See you soon

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Date of your route : Sep 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The hike is brilliant. Most of the ascent takes place in the forest, which is very pleasant when it’s hot and sunny. At the summits (Servance and Ballon d’Alsace), the view is magnificent and unobstructed. Much of the descent takes place in open areas, offering lovely views.
The GPS track is reliable, despite a few discrepancies with the map. But nothing too inaccurate, so no problem finding your way. However, the route description is largely incomplete and isn’t sufficient to guide you. Without the GPS track, we wouldn’t have been able to find our way. I noted a few inconsistencies:
- after point 1, once you’ve crossed the dyke, the direction to Vierge des Breuleux isn’t indicated. It should instead say: “Cross the dyke, then turn 90° left. After a few hundred metres, at the fork, follow Longeligoutte.”
- After point 6, I think it’s a shame not to go via the Ballon d’Alsace, as the view is magnificent. Moreover, the hike is called “Les 2 Ballons”, so we might as well go there... The sign for "Ballon d'Alsace" is a few hundred metres past point 6, and from the summit of the Ballon d'Alsace, near the Joan of Arc statue, you can take a path towards La Jumenterie (point 7).
- Once you reach La Jumenterie, the path leading down to Saint Maurice isn’t easy to find. It’s located below the building, in a “park” with a children’s playground. You then need to follow the path towards Saint Maurice. Further down, when you reach the road, continue towards “Vers Maison du tourisme”.

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Thanks, Cafer, for your feedback.
I think the author went as far as the Ballon de Servance, but this wasn’t clearly indicated. I’ll revise that section.
As for the path you took towards the statue of Joan of Arc, it’s off the route described by the author, so I won’t be changing that. However, hikers who wish to go there will find your comment helpful.
The path after the mare’s stable does seem to exist, though; perhaps you didn’t see it. I’ll leave it as it is for now, until another hiker gives us some information on the matter.
OK regarding the directions to Saint-Maurice and the Chalet du Vallon (although it is marked as a shelter on the IGN map).

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Hello
For me, No. 6 isn’t correct because you don’t go to the top of the Ballon de Servance; there’s a signpost indicating that the Ballon de Servance is one hour’s walk to the right and the Col du Stalon to the left, so I continued left towards the Col du Stalon
Then I found myself at the statue of Joan of Arc at the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace. Behind it, I took the path signposted to St Maurice as far as the ski lift behind the stud farm. From there, I walked back down the road to St Maurice as I couldn’t find the path
Once in St Maurice, head down to the church then go straight across towards the forest; you’ll find signposts indicating Tête du Lait or Col du Lait. Then, once you’ve gone a quarter of the way, a signpost will point you towards the Abri du Vallon (there’ll be a first shelter, but that isn’t the one; you’ll need to carry on right to the top)
Also, it’s not ‘Abri du Vallon’ but ‘Chalet du Vallon’

I hope this has been helpful, and I wish you a lovely hike

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Thank you, cafer, for your comments, which have led us to completely revise this old route, given that the original author hasn’t been in touch for a long time.
Please do have a look at the description and let me know what you think, as unlike me, you’ve actually been there yourself

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No, I’m not complaining about the difficulty – I’ve only been hiking for a month – but the directions aren’t clear enough. When I got to the stud farm, I should have walked downhill for a few kilometres to find the path towards St Maurice, but I had to go down the road because I couldn’t find it (or maybe it was just me who couldn’t find it???)

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Hello, cafer.
If I understand correctly, you’re criticising the author because the hike was difficult for you in the first half and you underestimated the amount of water you took with you . But ultimately, was the description any good? If not, you need to give us some ideas on how to improve it.

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Date of your route : Aug 06, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It was really tough in the first half, and on top of that I didn’t have enough water to finish because it was so hot (I just scraped through). But overall I enjoyed it and there were some lovely views.

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Date of your route : May 21, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Lots of forest roads – what a shame.

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Date of your route : Aug 10, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Please note: there has been a change to the route in St Maurice sur Moselle. At La Jumenterie, look out for the signposting from the bend in the road; it is at the end of the meadow.

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