The rollercoaster route via Rochenoz and Saint-Martin Church

Start in front of Duplessis-Deville College

(S/E) With your back to the school entrance, head to the right and turn right into the first street you come to (Faubourg Saint-Nicolas).

(1) After about 60 metres, turn left onto Rue de la Mer (signposted Église Saint-Martin). Take the first grassy path on your left (signposted Rochenoz and Yellow Ring). Continue straight ahead, ignoring any paths branching off to your left. The path becomes rocky, turns left and climbs very steeply. After a 750-metre climb, the ground levels out, then another short climb awaits you, leading to a three-way junction.

(2) Turn left onto the path signposted Rochenoz. This leads to the viewpoint. After about 700 m, including two steep climbs, you’ll reach the edge of the cliff. Follow the signposting carefully – at one point, it directs you to turn right – and you’ll arrive at the viewpoint.

(3) The viewpoint is marked by a railing. Take great care. Enjoy the view over Faucogney. Retrace your steps back to the crossroads.

(2) Take the path furthest to the left, making a hairpin bend. Walk alongside Étang Girard and you’ll reach a wide path coming from the left.

(4) Turn right onto this path, the entrance to which is marked with a Yellow Cross (note: between this point and Saint-Martin Church, there are no further signposts). A long descent lies ahead, followed by a wide left-hand bend, after which the path begins to climb again. Continue straight ahead until you reach a wide forest track that bends to the left at this point.

(5) Turn left and follow this path for a long way; it makes a few bends to the left and right. Pass two ponds on your right. Continue to the end of this forest track, where you’ll meet a path coming from the left and making a sharp left-hand bend.

(6) Turn right onto this path. Pass between two ponds and ignore two path entrances on your left. Pass between two more ponds, keeping to your right. The path winds its way between several more ponds. You’ll reach a crossroads; continue straight ahead until you come to a path coming from the left.

(7) Turn right to walk alongside two ponds on your left (a third pond, barely visible and far from the path, is on the right). You’ll reach a forest track; take it by turning right. Continue to a junction where you turn left. Pass between two ponds and arrive at the hamlet of Oroz.

(8) Continue along the road until you reach a crossroads where the road coming from the left is signposted Route de Saint-Martin.

(9) Turn left onto this road, ignore a path entrance on the left, and continue to a fork where you take the left-hand track, heading towards Les Grémillons (a beautiful, solitary house). The road turns into a path that descends steeply. Continue until you reach a road, which you follow to the right. Ignore two entrances on the left, and walk until you reach a path entrance on the right.

(10) Turn right onto this path. Ignore a turn-off on the left and, almost immediately, take the right-hand path at a fork. The path begins to climb. At a fork marked by a cross with a small statue of the Virgin Mary embedded in its column, turn left. The path begins in a forest. Initially quite wide and ascending, it becomes very narrow and runs along the hillside. Take care to keep your feet firmly on the path! One final bend to the right and you’ll reach Route de Saint-Martin. The church is a few metres away on your left.

(11) Turning left at the cemetery entrance, you’ll reach a viewpoint offering a magnificent view of the plain and the site of Saint-Colomban in Annegray. Retrace your steps and start heading down the road..

(11) After a few metres, opposite the junction with the path you took on the way there, you will find, on your left, the start of the Chemin aux Morts (marked with a Blue Ring). Walk down this steep path, paying attention to the various stations. Continue to the junction with the D72, marked on the right by a statue dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

(12) Turn right onto this road and follow it very carefully until you reach Rue de la Mer.

(1) Carry on a little further until you reach Rue de Mollans on your left. Take this road to reach the Collège Duplessis-Deville (S/E).

• Parking available in front of Collège Duplessis-Deville

Rue de Mollans, 70310 Faucogney

• Alternative

After the checkpoint (9), continue along the Route de Saint-Martin, which climbs gently. You’ll pass several ponds and head straight to the site of Saint-Martin Church. It’s easy, not very long (about 2 km), and there’s a bit less of an incline, but… it’s tarmac.

• In wet weather, some sections of the route can be very muddy. Please wear suitable footwear.

• The Rochenoz viewpoint (3) offers a magnificent view of Faucogney.
• The stretch between points (2) and (8) offers views of numerous ponds.
• At this point, visit Saint-Martin’s Church and its cemetery. Head to the viewpoint by taking the path on the left. You will find a large information panel and can admire a magnificent panorama. Do not attempt to walk all the way round the site by continuing along the rest of the cemetery wall: it is impassable.
• The Chemin des Morts is a Way of the Cross that was once followed during funerals. See if you can spot the surviving headstones!