Thaon-les-Vosges walks

A historical and community-focused walk exploring Thaon’s heritage and local shops.

The suggested walk is a straight route and will take you around the forts of the Épinal Stronghold, built by General Séré de Rivières. This stage will take you from Dogneville to Fort de la Mouche.

An easy walk following the Club Vosgien’s ‘Green Ring’ signposts. The route takes you through deciduous woodland (oak, beech, birch), fields and meadows.

This is an easy walk that follows the blue chestnut leaf markings and takes you to the Fontaine Valère fountain.

A stroll through the heart of Frizon. You will find information boards about the heritage of the village of Frizon, spread across the three walking routes starting from the car park by the church. The circular loop is the most family-friendly and the shortest. Suitable for pushchairs with good wheels: it is recommended that there be at least two people.

A stroll through the heart of Frizon. You will find information boards dedicated to the village’s heritage, spread across the three walking routes starting from the church car park. The Blue Circular Route allows you to explore the forest, as well as its flora and fauna. It takes you to the Fontaine Valère, where you can learn more about its history and taste its iron-rich mineral water.

A varied hike through woods, meadows and valleys. Please note: the section of the route from point (10) is currently impassable due to fallen trees along the stream. To return to the starting point, head towards Circourt by following the road (D39) to the right, then turn left into Rue de la Chapelle, which passes in front of the church, and continue straight on along the road that extends from it to join the D39a. Cross it to find the path you took at the start and follow it to the left to return to the car park.

The town of Épinal has over a thousand years of history. Recent archaeological excavations confirm human presence dating back to the Carolingian period. However, the historic centre developed under the impetus of the bishops of Metz, who settled in the town around 980. This neighbourhood also bears witness to the lives of the canonesses who occupied beautiful mansions around the basilica between the 13th century and the Revolution. Natural resources (water and timber) fostered the emergence of major industries such as paper and earthenware, followed by textiles.

A pleasant urban and suburban route, crossing the hills and forests of the Vosges, with magnificent views of the town.

A pleasant little walk through woods, fields and paths, with some gentle hills. Starting from Virine, you’ll head down to Circourt, walk around the village and climb back up through the woods to return to Virine, passing a 360° viewpoint! Ideal in summer with plenty of shaded areas, though there are a few fairly steep slopes.

Legend attributes the name of the fountain to an event during the war in the time of Charles the Bold. Lorraine partisans, loyal to Duke René, harassed the Burgundians besieging Epinal and managed to lure a detachment of Burgundians into an ambush not far from the fountain. They killed many of the soldiers in the detachment and left the bodies of three of them there.

This walk starts from the Passée car park in Chantraine, joins and follows the Bouzey reservoir supply canal and passes at the foot of the Roches d'Olima. The route is mainly under the cover of trees.

A hike through the beautiful Vosges forest to Lac de Bouzey with some historical remains.

A signposted walk through the forest between Chantraine and Saint-Laurent offering a quick view of Épinal from the Olympe. The walk follows the Bouzey Lake water supply canal twice, passing by the Étang du Bult and the Étang du Riéfaing, as well as the Roches d’Olima after following a small stream.

A shaded hike in the Épinal communal forest, home to remarkable trees and sites.

This walk will take you through the Ban d'Uxegney National Forest, starting with the Étang de la Comtesse and its peat bog, where you can discover the little "firefly nymph", frogs, water lilies, marsh marigolds, yellow bladderwort and floating bulrush. Not to mention the sundew, which is an insectivorous plant. Throughout this walk, you will also discover the Roches d'Olima, its powder magazine and the supply canal for the Bouzey reservoir.

The Bouzey Reservoir, a natural gem situated a stone’s throw from the town of Épinal, is a multifaceted site, perfect for relaxation and ideal for clearing your head. Its lush green surroundings offer a complete change of scenery and it is the perfect place to enjoy a range of sporting and leisure activities. Immerse yourself in idyllic landscapes where you can get active, go for a swim or simply laze on the beach!

An easy walk combining nature and history, near Épinal, mostly through woodland, on a route signposted by the Club Vosgien. During this walk, you will discover the source of the Avière, then the memorial stone erected in memory of the airmen shot down in July 1944, and further on, the Fontaine de la Couleuvre, built by the military to water their horses.

The final section of the Epinal Fortress, passing by the radio station, the arsenal, the Chantraine powder magazine, the barracks, the military hospital, the air station, the Décauville railway line and the powder magazines in the Olima valley.

Third part of the tour of the forts of the Épinal stronghold.A walking route linking Fort de La Mouche to Arches via Fort d’Arches, built by General Séré de Rivières.

A route along accessible paths offering beautiful views and the option to shorten the route if needed! The route passes at the foot of a wind turbine and ends on a disused railway line. The route is marked with various signposts from the Club Vosgien, but as these have only recently been put up, they do not appear on the IGN map.

Just a few kilometres from the centre of Épinal, this walk takes you to discover a little corner of forest that is, to say the least, unusual: the forest of huts at the Tranchée de Docelles, built around the Ardoise Verte. The route follows a forest trail marked by small fir trees. Along the way, you’ll come across huts, wooden structures and playful features, giving the walk a special atmosphere – almost like a stroll through an enchanted forest. The route ends with one of the site’s most original features: the forest maze, set amongst the trees. It’s a fun way to round off this walk and experience this woodland area in a different light. This family walk allows young and old alike to enjoy a little-known part of the Épinal Forest, combining nature, play and discovery.