A history of water in Norroy-le-Veneur

Water is omnipresent in Norroy-le-Veneur: wash houses, Fontaine aux Chênes, Moulin aux Prés. The fortified church and Highland cows are also worth a detour.

Details

4392371
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.08 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 98 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 105 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 295 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 212 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park at the A. Bourson village hall (marked "Notre Dame" on the map).

(S/E) Go up Rue de Charrau (D50) which leads to Norroy.

(1) At the bend in the road, take the path on the left. At the end of this path, turn left onto Rue de Plesnois and continue to the fork at the cemetery.

(2) Take the right-hand hairpin bend onto the path that runs alongside the cemetery. When you reach the church, go down a few steps and go around the building on the right, then go up the steps on the left to read the information panel. Walk past the town hall and join Grand Rue. Turn left and walk to the beginning of Rue Godier.

(3) Turn left onto the small path between the houses. At the end, turn right and then, at the roundabout, take the street on the right. Continue along a field path that leads to Sous Norroy.

(4) Turn left onto Rue de Sous Norroy.

(5) Take the first path on the left that goes up to Fontaine aux Chênes. Retrace your steps along the same path to Sous Norroy.

(4) Continue straight ahead and, at the three-way junction, turn right down Rue de la Rinquelle.

(6) At the wash house, turn left onto Rue de la Côte, then turn right onto the wide Chemin de Coquiotte. Follow it to Moulin aux Prés.

(7) Go around the mill and continue to Route de Semécourt. Turn right and return to the car park on the left (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 224 m - A. Bourson village hall
  2. 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 245 m - Path on the left in the bend
  3. 2 : km 0.85 - alt. 266 m - Fork in the cemetery
  4. 3 : km 1.81 - alt. 257 m - Path on the right between the houses
  5. 4 : km 2.54 - alt. 251 m - Rue de Sous Norroy
  6. 5 : km 2.83 - alt. 263 m - Chemin de la Fontaine
  7. 6 : km 4.69 - alt. 238 m - Rue de la Côte on the left (wash house)
  8. 7 : km 5.57 - alt. 212 m - Moulin aux Prés
  9. S/E : km 6.08 - alt. 221 m - A. Bourson village hall

Notes

Other starting points are possible (car parks in the village of Norroy). Here, we follow the clockwise direction.
The last part on the Semécourt road is dangerous, so keep well to the side of the road!

Worth a visit

Between (1) and (2) to the left of Rue de Plesnois, marked with a cross on the map, is the grave of a Prussian soldier from the 1870 war. Soldier Kurt Ribbentrop of the 5th Brandenburg Infantry Regiment was killed on 7 October 1870 during the Battle of Ladonchamps during the siege of Metz.

After (2), the path offers beautiful views of the landscape towards Semécourt and La Maxe.

Saint-Pierre Church (marked with a star) was remodelled until the 15th century. The crypt dates from the 11th century. The bretèches, arrow slits and two Romanesque keep towers make it a fine example of a fortified church.
An adjoining garden displays Jaumont stone sculptures by artists from Roncourt.

After (3), the wash houses of Godier(marked "Lav") and Domdémé (before (4), at the bend in the road) date from the 18th century.

After (5) at the start of the path, you may see a herd of Highland cattle. They are of Scottish origin and well adapted to the cold thanks to their fleece, and to poor, steep terrain. They are excellent at clearing brush.

The Fontaine aux Chênes fountain is fed by the source of the Norroy stream. A large stone basin, it was probably used as a drinking trough for livestock.

Between (4) and (6) on Rue de la Rinquelle, take a look at the old presbytery on the right.

Just after (6), there is another wash house, converted into an electrical substation (19th-century Larue fountain).

Before (7), on the left, there are a few blockhouses protecting the Lorraine fortified group located above Plesnois.

(7) the Moulin aux Prés (large building on the right before the bend) operated from the Middle Ages until the Second World War. To compensate for the lack of water, a steam engine was added to this communal wheat mill in the 19th century. It was partially destroyed by fire in 2018.

*Note: The characters in bold refer to a photo.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
F0755
F0755

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk

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Bp57
Bp57

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, shame that a fountain has been turned into an electrical transformer. Very pleasant in good weather, you discover a pretty village.

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Gatti Gerard
Gatti Gerard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It is a beautiful walk in the heart of nature, surrounded by birds and nature.

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4807
4807

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, visit to the lovely village in Lorraine. Wonderful encounters
Best done in dry weather

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Jean Claude G1.
Jean Claude G1.

Great for cows!
Thank you for your comment.
JC

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SebHan
SebHan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I discovered this pretty little village not far from my home on a beautiful day.
It was very rejuvenating, both literally and figuratively
There are some very clear views along the way!
There are a few sights to see along the way, which are clearly marked in the description.
The Highland cows were there waiting for us!

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Blanche pivoine
Blanche pivoine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, very precise directions, lovely scenery, a wonderful discovery not far from home.

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Jean Claude G1.
Jean Claude G1.
• Edited:

Thank you, Caroline, and enjoy your walks in our beautiful region. JC

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Caroline57
Caroline57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful discovery under a sun that heralds spring. No particular difficulties. I recommend it.

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Jean Claude G1.
Jean Claude G1.

Thank you. JC

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stot
stot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, varied and well documented.

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Jean Claude G1.
Jean Claude G1.

Thank you for your comments. Were the Highland cows there? Best regards, JC

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5corinne
5corinne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little walk! And it's the first time we haven't got lost!

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Jean Claude G1.
Jean Claude G1.
• Edited:

The weather is indeed not ideal for hiking. I am currently in the Vosges, and the melting snow is turning all the trails into streams!
Norroy will have to wait for better weather... Thank you for the ratings.
Best regards
JC

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ancdec
ancdec

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The village of Norroy is beautifully situated and the church is one of the most beautiful in the region. Unfortunately, we were unable to complete the entire route because in January 2021 the paths were too muddy and virtually impassable. Only the paved sections were possible. To be redone in dry weather.

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