Grand tour of the Savoureuse Valley

Park in the Chauveroche car park near the pond.

S/E: Take the Red Disc-marked path opposite and begin a steep climb to reach the Col du Querty.

(1) Keep to the right on the path, which is still marked with the Red Disc. Leave the forest briefly to cross the beautiful Chaume du Querty. Continue back into the forest to reach the Roche Fendue crossroads.

(2) Carry on following the same markings. Cross a picnic area where the markings are now dual-marked with a Green Rectangle, and walk past the Refuge de la Haute Planche. Pass the Planche des Belles Filles car park and you will come to a crossroads.

(3) Turn left, towards the Ballon d’Alsace, onto the Green Rectangle path – this is the^GR® 533. Walk almost level along this wide track. After a right-hand bend, you’ll come across an old pond in the next circular route.

Stay on the^GR® 533 (Green Rectangle)

(4) Continue to the La Grande Goutte mountain hut.

(5) After the refuge, turn left onto the path marked with a Yellow Disc and head towards the Ballon d’Alsace (mine clearance monument). From there, the path climbs gradually. You’ll reach the Col du Ballon.

(6) Turn right onto the tarmac road D 465 towards La Gentiane and join the^GR® 5.

(7) Turn left onto the^GR® marked with Red Rectangles, passing La Chaumière. Stay on the^GR®, which runs parallel to the road, then cross the road to quickly reach the Gentiane building.

(8) Continue along the^GR®, pass the Plain de la Gentiane and go round the Vierge de Wissgrut. You will then reach an X-junction in the hamlet of Wissgrut.

(9) Take the right-hand branch of^{the GR®} through the Wissgrut hayfields and head for the Y-junction at a place called Le Gros Hêtre. Keep left on the^GR® and continue downhill to reach a multi-way junction at the Col du Chantoiseau.

(10) Stay on the^GR® and follow its Red Rectangle markings. Continue along this descending path, skirting the Ferme du Mont Jean at a distance. Then make a wide left-hand circular loop to reach another multi-way junction at the foot of Mont Jean.

(11) Leave the^GR® behind on your left and turn right onto the path marked with the Blue Ring. Continue downhill, cross the D 465 and arrive at the junction with Rue de l’Église in the village of Lepuix.

(12) Turn right onto this street, which is signposted with Green Ring markers, and follow it to return to the Chauveroche car park (S/E).

Note: there is an alternative route starting and finishing at Auxelles-Haut (Rue des Étangs car park), which adds 4 km to the route.

(6) Alternative route: take a detour via the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace by following the GR®5, GR®5F, GR®7 and GR®59; the markings are: Red Rectangles and Yellow Discs, leading to:
- the statue of Joan of Arc,
- the Virgin of the Ballon, as well as a magnificent view over the valleys of Lorraine, Alsace, the Territoire de Belfort and the Haute-Saône,
(6) A distinctive feature of the Ballon d’Alsace is that it lies at the junction of departments 90, 68, 88 and 70.