The up to 1424 m high Vosges (French: les Vosges) are a low mountain range at the transition from Lorraine and Alsace in the east of France. The mountains delimit the French part of the Upper Rhine Graben to the west.
places
- Abreschviller - Wooded village on the Red Saar (276 m, 1250 inh.)
- Bains-les-Bains - Bathing resort in the Bagnerot valley with thermal springs (256 m, 1250 inh.)
- Contrexéville - Mineral water "from the depths of the Vosges". Similar to Vittel, located very west. (3300 pop)
- Epinal - The small town in the Moselle valley is the capital (prefecture) of the French department Vosges. (315–492 m, 32000 pop)
- Fontenoy-le-Château - Due to its location on the Canal des Vosges, the old buildings, cobblestone streets and a ruined castle, the municipality has become a tourist magnet today. (247-461 m, 605 pop.)
- Gerardmer - The small town is 670 m above sea level on the 115.5 hectare lake of the same name.
- Guebwiller - (300 m, 11,500 pop.)
- Lautenbach - on the eastern edge of the southern Vosges in the Lauch Valley (294 m, 1570 inh.)
- Luxeuil-les-Bains - far in the south, so in the Franche-Comté, is this seaside resort that attracts its guests with hot springs. (8400 pop)
- Muenster - in the Münstertal (Vallée de Munster) east of the Hohneck mountain (380 m, 5040 inh.)
- Plombières-les-Bains - The thermal springs of Plombières, already known to the Romans, reach temperatures between 57 and 84 degrees. Severe population loss in the unmodern place. (335–576 m, 1,800 inh.)
- Remiremont (German Romberg) - traffic junction on the Moselle (379 m, 8,024 inh.)
- Saint-Dié-des-Vosges - Bishopric with approx. 20,000 inhabitants.
- Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines - (326 m, 5600 pop.)
- Saint-Amarin - in the valley of the Thur (393 m, 2,387 inhabitants)
- Thann - Located in the foothills of the Vosges on the river Thur, approx. 15 km northwest of Mulhouse (342 m, 7980 inh.) - Collegiate Church of St-Thiébaut
- Marmoutier (Maursmünster) - south of Saverne Church of the former Benedictine abbey Romanesque architecture in Alsace (210 m, 2660 inh.)
- Vittel - Even west of the mountains, the seaside resort is still part of the Vosges. The place is known for the mineral water of the same name. (5400 pop)
Other goals
Nature parks
- Regional Natural Park of the Vosges du Nord (German Northern Vosges Nature Park) - extends to the German border and, together with the Palatinate Forest Nature Park, forms the Palatinate Forest-Vosges du Nord biosphere reserve [1]
- Regional Natural Park of the Ballons des Vosges - with the Belchen [2]
background
- Vosegus, also Vosagus, was a Celtic god.
In contrast to the Black Forest the highlands of the Vosges are very sparsely populated. Therefore the character of the mountains is a bit "wilder" than in the Black Forest. The dense forests, which have their origin in the humid climate, have given the region a reputation for high water quality. The water from various mineral wells is exported all over the world. But numerous bathing resorts also use the water to offer spa treatments. In Plombières-les-Bains the water emerges in the form of hot springs.
In contrast to the neighboring regions, the Vosges are economically weak, which leads to the migration of the younger population.
Historically as a border area between France and Germany, there are some traces of the two world wars as well as castle ruins and fortifications from the distant past in the Vosges
language
French and also Alsatian.
getting there
mobility
Passports
- Col de la Schlucht - the gorge pass is a 1139 m high pass in the Vosges and an important traffic axis between the regions Lorraine and Alsace, as well as the places Gerardmer and Muenster.
- Col du Ballon d'Alsace - at 1178 m, one of the highest passes in the Vosges. Connection between the Moselle and the Territoire de Belfort.
- Col du Bonhomme (949 m) - between Colmar and Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
- Col du Donon (727 m) - between Strasbourg (Alsace) and Nançy (Lorraine)
Tourist Attractions
Northern Vosges
- Plan incline. Ship lift from Saint-Louis / Arzviller - The lift built in 1969 bridges a height difference of 44.55 m on an inclined plane.
- Dagsburg and Wangenburg - Little Vosges. Petites Vosges. Here, the sandstone hills form elongated ridges with steep slopes, free-standing stone pillars and rocks that have been washed out like ruins by the weather.
- Dagsburger rocks. Nice view from the 30 meter high red sandstone rock Rocher de Dabo (French). The ruins of the Dagsburg and a chapel are located on the plateau of the rock (there is a charge to climb).
- Nideck waterfall and Nideck castle ruins. From the vantage point you have a wonderful view of the narrow valley and the gorge, into which a waterfall falls over a porphyry wall.
- Donon Massif - Donon Summit. 1009 m high summit on the border between Alsace and Lorraine with a wonderful panoramic view. Napoleon the 3 had an imitation temple built on the summit.
- Hohwaldgebiet
- Neuntelsstein
- Mont Ste-Odile. Mount Odile. The holy mountain of Alsace, at its northern tip is the monastery of St. Odilia, the patron saint of the country.
- Champ du Feu (high field). The highest mountain in the Middle Vosges (1100 m) · The 20 m high observation tower offers a magnificent panoramic view over the Vosges heights and the Rhine plain to the Black Forest.
- 1 European Center for Deportation and Resistance. On the former site of the German Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp is the memorial and the French museum for the resistance fighters deported during World War II.
South Vosges
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- Source of the Moselle
- 3 Tendon waterfalls
mountains
- Big Belchen. The Grand balloon is the highest peak in the Vosges at 1424 m. From Kammstrasse Route des Crêtes the mountain peak can be reached in 15 minutes on foot. From Grand balloon in good weather you have excellent visibility. There is a hotel and excursion gastronomy on the mountain. You can go skiing in winter. Cross-country trails are also groomed. Location of the mountain: 47 ° 54 ′ 3 ″ N.7 ° 5 '55 "E. Incidentally, the large Belchen is one of a total of 5 Belchen (from Celtic, "the radiant"), one of which is in Germany.
- Stork head. 1366 m. Only 1.4 km from the Großer Belchen.
- Hohneck. 1363 m.
- Battery head. 1311 m. Allows views of the Thur Valley and the Krüth-Wildensteiner See.
rivers and lakes
- The two source rivers derive from the Donon Saar, the Red Saar (la Sarre Rouge) and the White Saar (la Sarre Blanche). The captured source of the Red Saar is located on the D44 road near a German military cemetery at an altitude of about 785 meters. Both source rivers unite south of Sarrebourg.
- Lac de Gérardmer. The Lac de Gérardmer is a 115.5 hectare natural lake that is fed by the Vologne.
- Lac de Longemer. The Lac de Longemer is located in the municipality of Xonrupt-Longemer, at an altitude of 735 meters and covers an area of about 76 hectares.
- Lac de Kruth-Wildenstein. The 81 hectare reservoir is fed by the Thur and is located in Alsace. The Bockloch waterfall is located on the north bank.
- The Black Lake and the White Lake located higher up (Lac Noir and Lac Blanc) together form a group of pumped storage power plants. The two glacial mountain lakes lie above Orbey.
activities
Cycling
- Moselle cycle path, upper, unofficial section
- Saar cycle path, upper, unofficial section
- Meuse cycle route
- Vosges Canal cycle route (Voie Verte du Canal des Vosges) - 76 km from Fontenoy-le-Château above Epinal to Socourt (Subsections have different names)
- Thurtal cycle path (Voie Verte de la Vallée de la Thur) - 42 km from Ungersheim via Vieux-Thann to the Lac de Kruth
- La Voie Verte des Hautes Vosges - approx. 54 km signposted and paved from Cornimont above Remiremont to Bussang near the source of the Moselle. Runs almost entirely on an old railway line and offers the landscape of the (high) southern Vosges with 2 river valleys. (French website)
hike
- Sentier des Roches - a 3 km long demanding mountain hiking trail. The northern end is at the Col de la Schlucht at an altitude of 1139 meters, the southern end is at the Krappenfels at an altitude of 980 meters.
- Paths over the high pastures are popular (Hautes chaumes), as you can enjoy wide views when the weather is clear.
- The transnational long-distance hiking trail GR 5 passes the Vosges and runs along the high peaks.
Winter sports
- Lac Blanc ski area - Page in French
- Ski areas near La Bresse- The area "La Bresse-Hoheneck" is quite a large area with 28 lifts (french page). The slopes can be covered with snow. There are also the smaller ski areas La Bresse Lispach (french page) and La Bresse Brabant (french side). The valley location with accommodation is La Bresse; see also (Tourist information office La Bresse in English)
- Ski area on the Grand Ballon (Big Belchen)
- Ski area near Gérardmer
Tourist routes
Alsatian Wine Route - Route des vins d'Alsace
The Alsatian wine route meanders in many turns through the hilly foreland of the Vosges (Map). Here you get to know Alsace and the eastern edge of the Vosges from the most beautiful and serene side, a little above the plain with a view of the Rhine plain and on the other side the mountains of the Vosges. · The street starts in Marlenheim (N4) and goes over Obernai, Andlau, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Turckheim, Eguisheim, Guebwiller until after Thann (N66).
1000 ponds route - Route des Mille Étangs
Very beautiful, 60 km long route, which you can ride by bike (hilly!) Or by car. The official start is in Melisey. As with every round tour, other entrances are also possible (e.g. in Servance). The numerous ponds, dug into a high plateau, are remnants of an ice age glacier landscape. Some ponds were deepened by monks about 800 years ago. Page in French.
Vogesenkammstrasse - Route des Crêtes
In the southern Vosges, a drive on the high road is worthwhile Vogesenkammstrasse (Route des Crêtes) (Map). It leads over the most impressive part of the mountain range and almost always runs on the western flank a little below the ridge at a height of about 1200 meters. Half of it goes through the forest, but there are many excellent views of the characteristic bare mountain tops with its high pastures.
The 77 km long ridge road branches off as D 148 from the D 48 (Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines - Le Bonhomme) in the north at the pass Col du Bagenelles (905 m). From here it's 7 km along the main ridge to the Col du Bonhomme (949 m). From there it goes 6.6 km to the Col du Calvaire (1144 m). A few kilometers further, the border of the department is crossed, which results in the renaming of the road as D 61. It now leads 13 km further to Col de la Schlucht (1139 m). From here it continues as the D 430, past the Meurthe source, until after 21 km it is the winter sports resort Le Markstein (1200 m) reached. From here the route takes its way for 30 km via the D 431 over the Grand balloon (1343 m) to after Cernay and Thann in the south of the mountains. The road runs between 825 and 1250 m altitude. The highest point is at 1342 Grand balloon. In the northern part, the road mostly runs in Lorraine near the border with Alsace.
The route is not cleared in winter (partly used as a winter hiking trail or cross-country ski trail). The winter closure can last until the end of April / beginning of May.
Stations: Departementstraße D 148
- The 949 m high pass Col du Bonhomme separates Lorraine from Alsace.
- Col du Luochbach, 977 m
- Col du Calvaire
D 148 / D 61
- 25 min. To walk to Gazon du Faing (1303 m) and viewpoint to the Lac du Forlet
- Path to the viewpoint to the Green Lake (Lac Vert) and a view of the Munster Valley.
- Canyon Pass: Col de la Schlucht (1258 m) - small holiday resort, in winter the pass with the surrounding meadows is a popular ski area. Tel .: (33) - (3) -2963 1137
D 430
- Montabey summit (1065 m) - 25 minutes' walk from Kammstrasse
- Le Markstein (1200 m)
D 431
- Cernay
D 35
- Thann
kitchen
Culinary specialties
- Quiche Lorraine - Lothringer Speckkuchen (-torte) (the French word quiche is related to the German "cake")
- cheese "Munster-Géromé" - A large Munster-Géromé matures for around 2-3 months, a small one for only 2 weeks. The cheese is noticeable for its characteristic red color ("red cultures"). Géromé stands for Gérardmer in Lorraine.
- Salade Vosgienne - Warm potato salad with fried diced bacon, vinegar and boiled eggs
- Soft cheese Géramont - comes from the Vosges and is produced in Tholy. However, it is much easier to get it in Germany.
security
climate
The weather west of the ridge is cool and humid by French standards. In particular, the high southern Vosges are very rainy. The smaller area of the eastern slopes sloping down to the Rhine, on the other hand, is quite dry and warm and allows the cultivation of wine.
literature
- Vosges. 51 tours: 51 selected hikes between Freiburg, Strasbourg and Karlsruhe, ISBN 3763340181
