Planche des Belles Filles walks

This beautiful walk will take you from the charming village of Auxelles-Haut to the summit of the Planche des Belles Filles. You will cross the vast moorland of Mont Ménard with its statue of the Virgin Mary, protector of the village, and the thatched roof of the Querty. Several beautiful viewpoints punctuate a walk offering beautiful forest scenery.

This day-long hike combines the best of the hikes already offered in this area, including the mines, the Belles Filles pond, Le Querty, the summit of La Planche, the shelter and statue of the Virgin Mary at Mont Ménard, and memorial sites (steles and monuments).

The circular Belles Filles in Lepuix Often shaded and very varied, this walk alternates between woodland and dry grasslands, natural curiosities and local heritage. The route is marked with a red disc.

The hike begins with a forgotten path that deserves to be preserved. Access to the Querty grassland is very regular in a magnificent forest. Climb towards La Planche des Belles Filles then descend to Auxelles via the superb panorama of Mont Ménard.

A circular route starting from the car park at La Planche des Belles Filles. The route runs along the north-western side of the Ballon Saint-Antoine, overlooking the Plancher-les-Mines valley, and returns via the eastern side, passing by the Étang des Belles Filles.

This route is a variation on the ‘Circular Route of the Belles Filles’ in Lepuix. Often shaded and very varied, this walk alternates between woodland and dry grasslands, featuring natural and local heritage points of interest, and passes along the FFI trail. For cycling enthusiasts, it offers an insight into the difficulty of the ‘Super Planche des Belles Filles’.

There are many notable peaks in the Vosges. Most are in Alsace, with the exception of the Planche des Belles Filles. Famous in the cycling world for the difficulty and gradient of the access road, it can also be reached on foot from Plancher-les-Mines or from Lepuix. This walk begins in this hamlet. It then follows the ridge through woodland to the Ballon d’Alsace before descending alongside the Savoureuse and its waterfalls, including the Saut de la Truite.

A day’s walk; it’s long but not difficult. The steepest section is the climb to the Planche des Belles-Filles from Lepuix; after that, it’s mostly a ridge walk between Haute-Saône and the Territoire de Belfort, all the way to the Ballon d’Alsace. On the return journey, you’ll descend into the valley to the starting point via theGR® 5.

This walk, the main highlight of which is the legendary Planche des Belles Filles, takes you mainly through the beautiful forests of the Vosges, whilst offering some stunning panoramic views. On the way back, you’ll pass by a typical lake and, above all, the extraordinary Cascade de la Goutte des Saules, which is in fact a series of cascades and waterfalls stretching over a total vertical drop of more than 100 metres.

Like a Tour de France climber! If you enjoy sporting challenges, then La Planche des Belles Filles is for you! Now a legendary climb in the Tour de France and a real challenge for cyclists, it offers a demanding ascent and spectacular views. At 5.9 km long with an average gradient of 8.5% and an elevation gain of over 600 metres, this demanding climb leaves no one indifferent. But before that, you'll have to tackle the Col des Chevrères and its steep gradients (an 8 km climb with an average gradient of 6.5% and sections of 12%), then return to Servance via the Ballon de Servance... an 18 km climb with an average gradient of 5% and sections of 12%. Get ready for an unforgettable experience!

This long circular hike will take you through or past a large number of remarkable, picturesque and spectacular spots, and you’ll have the satisfaction of having climbed the Ballon d’Alsace with a significant elevation gain – something not everyone gets to do. The route can be completed in a long day’s walk, provided you are in good shape and set off early in the morning. It is very manageable over two days at a more leisurely pace, with an overnight stay at the Ballon d’Alsace.