A circular route from Reherrey to Tête d’Avuxon and Croix de Kerchiou

There is a car park at a place called Reherrey, about 2.5 km from the centre of Vecoux.

(S/E) From the car park, follow the Blue Ring signposts as you walk back down the road you took earlier by car. Turn right at the first junction, then left about a hundred metres further on, to cross the bridge over the Reherrey Stream: Yellow Triangle – Blue Ring signposts. You will reach the hot spring. This is a thermal spring with water that is naturally warm at around 21°C, situated in the hamlet of Chaudefontaine. Its history is described on an information board.

(1) After admiring the site and dipping your hand in the water to find that it is ‘lukewarm’, continue along the same path until you come to a small road. Turn left, then turn right at right angles to the road onto a path signposted with a Blue Ring. Continue to a three-way junction near a farm.

(2) Turn left towards the Chalet de l’Avuxon: follow the Yellow Saltire markings. The path passes close to a chalet near a small pond, then climbs a steep but steady slope to the Chalet de l’Avuxon.

(3) Head right, following the ‘Red Disc’ signposting. The wide, almost flat path through the woodland follows the contour lines. Don’t miss the small path on the right, which winds its way down in hairpin bends to the aviator’s memorial. This memorial was erected in memory of Chief Warrant Officer Salban, who died in the line of duty during a helicopter accident involving the 7th Division’s light aviation group on 12 December 1975.

(4) Continue along the path marked ‘Red Disc’ to the orientation table perched on a small promontory, which offers a beautiful view of the valley. From here, you can see the town of Remiremont, Saint-Mont, the Fossard massif in the background, and also the Chèvre-Roche site.

(5) Continue along the Red Disc marked trail until you come out onto a forest track. Turn right and head for the Cucherons car park: the final section is along a tarmac road.

(7) From the car park, continue along the tarmac road (Red Disc) to the Croix de Kerchiou on the Tête des Cucherons (see ‘Places to see’ section).

(8) From this cross, turn right onto the tarmac road signposted with a Blue Ring, and continue to the Gros Chêne.

(8) Continue straight on along a wide stony track towards Reherrey: marked with a Blue Ring. Join the uphill track near the farm.

(2) Turn left and follow the outward route in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

The Reherrey car park can only accommodate a few vehicles.

(1) Chaudefontaine thermal spring.

(3) The Chalet de l’Avuxon.

(4) Aviator’s memorial.

(5) Orientation board.

(8) Kerchiou Cross

According to local folklore:

The ghost: a ghost would appear every night near the site of this cross, constantly repeating the word ‘Kyrie’.
The deliverance: one evening, a drunkard passing by replied by singing: ‘Kyrie eleison. ’
The end of the torment: the ghost exclaimed: ‘Thank you very much; I have been waiting a hundred years for the kind words you have just spoken.’ The man had just delivered a soul from purgatory.