The 360 steps of Châtel-Saint-Germain

A walk around Châtel-Saint-Germain, exploring the remains of the fortifications surrounding the city of Metz, including the famous 360 steps of a gigantic staircase! The highlight is the archaeological site at Châtel and its sarcophagi. And, as always, the forest, with a stretch exposed to the wind on the plateau.

Details

67433114
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.48 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 283 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 283 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 394 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 204 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park next to the town hall.

(S/E) Head towards the tunnel, go through it and immediately take the path on the left.

(1) Turn right at the first three-way junction and follow the well-marked path which climbs gently. Ignore another path branching off to the left.

(2) Turn left at the next junction and cross some beautiful scree slopes, remnants of old field boundaries. Keep heading north and then follow the edge of the Graoully Forest for a good distance, ignoring the various paths branching off to the left. Reach the track coming from Notre-Dame du Gros Chêne.

(3) Cross over and continue straight ahead. A short distance from the track, on the right, you can see some fine artillery emplacements.

(4) Cross the footbridge over the old railway line, which was used to supply ammunition to the numerous defence posts visible along the edge of the forest, and continue on. As you approach the buildings of Saint-Vincent, the path takes a sharp left-hand bend and descends into the valley floor. Cross the Ruisseau de Montvaux and reach the D643.

(5) Cross with care and tackle the 360-step climb opposite. “At the top of the steps, you can see two spiral-shaped lookout posts to the right and left. Emerge onto the access road to the antennas and follow it, turning left to reach the junction with the Route Militaire.

(6) Turn right and head for the three-way junction near an old blockhouse. Turn sharply left to follow the path across the fields and emerge at a T-junction a few dozen metres from the Route de Verneville.

(7) Head left towards the pumping station, then take the path on the right at the bend.

(8) Keep right at the three-way junction to reach the archaeological site of Châtel-Saint-Germain.

(9) Continue along the path which descends steeply towards the village and joins Route de Verneville.

(10) Turn left, cross the Route de Verdun (D643) with care and enter the cul-de-sac opposite. Once at the end, follow the path on the right along the Ruisseau de Montvaux. Return to the tarmac and go straight on along Rue du Ruisseau. Continue along the path, cross the bridge and head for the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 204 m - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : km 0.22 - alt. 270 m - Path on the right
  3. 2 : km 0.57 - alt. 335 m - Junction, left
  4. 3 : km 3.5 - alt. 382 m - Crossing the track
  5. 4 : km 3.88 - alt. 371 m - Footbridge
  6. 5 : km 5.63 - alt. 308 m - D643, the 360-step staircase
  7. 6 : km 6.13 - alt. 381 m - Route Militaire
  8. 7 : km 7.87 - alt. 357 m - Crossroads
  9. 8 : km 8.24 - alt. 354 m - Three-way junction, on the right
  10. 9 : km 8.55 - alt. 349 m - Archaeological site
  11. 10 : km 8.99 - alt. 258 m - Route de Verneville
  12. S/E : km 9.48 - alt. 204 m - Town hall car park

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Capucine S
Capucine S

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, varied route that ends at the archaeological site, offering a superb view of the valley. I didn’t count the steps, but I’ll do so next time!

Machine-translated

OdileRando
OdileRando
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In good weather, this route, with its interesting elevation changes, can be completed in complete safety. On the day of our hike, which was a reconnaissance hike, access was impossible at the start next to the tunnel, as roadworks were blocking the way. We had to change the route and extend the hike by 1.5 km, taking the bottom of Vazelle and joining the trail at the Saint Georges farm. The forest is quite dark, and it is advisable not to set off too late in the afternoon in autumn and winter. A very beautiful hike, the 360 steps are there at the end of the route after the fairly steep descent to the Montvaux stream, but then Mont Saint Germain is a beautiful reward with its archaeological site.

Machine-translated

User 24308408

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for the very pleasant route, between 80 and 90% of which is on a shaded forest path. Be careful before point 5, just after the bridge and before the 360 steps: the road is quite busy. Beautiful hike

Machine-translated

EmmanuelB57
EmmanuelB57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike in 20-degree weather.
We remember those 360 steps lol, which fortunately are in the shade of the forest.
A hike through woods and fields (there’s a long stretch across a field – be careful not to do this when it’s very hot)
A must-do

Machine-translated

Moune57
Moune57
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A lovely walk, mostly along the edge of the forest. The ground was frozen that day, so it was easy to walk on. There are plenty of ruins to see before you reach the steps.

Machine-translated

kuumiut
kuumiut

Thanks for the feedback!

Machine-translated

Jaro
Jaro

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk that alternates between woodland and points of interest (a forest staircase, an archaeological site).

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.