The Vosges can be explored through a wide range of themes: marshes and woodland landscapes, marked hiking trails, cycling routes and thermal towns. In the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park, high-altitude pastures, peat bogs, beech-fir forests and limestone grasslands are part of the landscape. Nearly 2,500 species have been identified in the park. The peat bogs of Lispach and Ténine have been listed in the Vosges departmental inventory of sensitive natural areas since 1995. At Lac de Lispach, a floating peat bog covers almost half the lake’s surface.
The park’s visitor centers offer information materials and temporary exhibitions. If you would like to visit one, check the latest visitor arrangements and exhibition information in advance.
Hiking and the Route des CrĂŞtes
There are more than 4,000 kilometers of marked and maintained trails for hiking in the Vosges. Since 1921, the Club Vosgien has marked nearly 4,000 kilometers of trails in the Vosges. A total of 500 kilometers of marked trails are designated for Grande Randonnée. These figures refer to trail networks; when planning a day hike, the specific route is what matters. You can choose your own hike based on the description of each route, rather than treating the length of the entire trail network as the distance of a single stage.
The 77-kilometer Route des CrĂŞtes offers a different perspective. It passes the Grand Ballon, Hohneck and Col de la Schlucht. When visibility is good, views from the route extend across lakes, valleys and peaks. There is an important seasonal restriction: from mid-November, the route is closed to traffic for the winter. Check the latest traffic conditions for your travel dates before planning a drive.
Cycling routes with different distances
There are also several options for a cycling trip. The Voie Verte des Hautes Vosges comprises 53 kilometers of multi-activity trails through the mountains. The 120-kilometer cycling route along the Canal des Vosges runs from Nancy to Bains-les-Bains through forests and valleys. The two routes differ both in length and in the landscapes described. This provides a starting point for choosing your focus: a shorter route for several activities in the mountains, or a longer cycling route between two named towns through forest and valley landscapes.
Thermal towns, violin making and regional cuisine
The four thermal towns of the Vosges are Bains-les-Bains, Vittel, Plombières-les-Bains and Contrexéville. Before making plans, check which thermal facilities and treatments are available for your travel dates. Four historic thermal baths in Plombières-les-Bains are listed as Monuments historiques; if you would like to visit them, check access arrangements in advance. Bains-les-Bains preserves Gallo-Roman traces, including ancient mosaics. This offers a chance to explore the history of thermal bathing and older traces of the town without assuming that listed status guarantees access.
Mirecourt has been associated with violin exports worldwide since the 17th century. The Musée de la lutherie et de l’archèterie françaises explains the town’s violin-making craft. As programs and access arrangements may change, check this information before your visit. Ferme-auberges in the Hautes-Vosges traditionally serve repas marcaire. Menus and seasonal service vary, so it is worth checking what is on offer in advance. Glace de Plombières is also associated with Plombières-les-Bains. A local legend places its origin at the 1858 meeting between Napoleon III and Cavour.
Discover more destinations
Epinal, Gérardmer, Godoncourt, La Bresse, Le Thillot, Le Tholy, Le Val-D'ajol, Xonrupt-Longemer, Girmont Val D`ajol, Hurbache, Le Valtin, Les Voivres, Liézey, Lironcourt, Morizécourt, Pargny-Sous-Mureau, Ramonchamp, Saint-Nabord, Le Menil, Ventron, Saulxures-Sur-Moselotte, Vagney, Anould, Allarmont, Gerbepal, Corcieux, Cornimont, Travexin, Thiéfosse, Dombasle-Devant-Darney, Bonvillet, Ban-De-Laveline, Beaufremont, Bussang, Colroy-La-Grande, Rupt-Sur-Moselle, Frapelle, Vecoux, Denipaire, Sapois, Vittel, Remiremont, Plombières-Les-Bains, Laval, Golbey, Contrexéville, Chavelot, Mirecourt, Housseras, Rehaupal, Baudricourt, Arches, Saint-Dié-Des-Vosges, Xertigny, Saint-Julien, Raon-Sur-Plaine, Rochesson, Le Syndicat, Saint-Pierremont, Ban-Sur-Meurthe-Clefcy, Bulgnéville, Vincey, Neufchâteau, Charmes, Coussey, Basse-Sur-Le-Rupt, Tendon, Rouvres-En-Xaintois, Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle, Raon-L'étape, Fontenoy-Le-Château, Plainfaing, Celles-Sur-Plaine, Monthureux-Sur-Saône, Sainte-Marguerite, Bains-Les-Bains, Saint-Remy, Thaon-Les-Vosges, Saint-Léonard, Grand, Senones, Fresse-Sur-Moselle, Ainvelle, Lamarche, Luvigny, Darney, Autrey, Saint-Amé, Saint-Maurice-Sur-Mortagne, La Grande-Fosse, Dommartin-Lès-Remiremont, Raon-Aux-Bois, Le Clerjus, Granges-Sur-Vologne, La Chapelle-Aux-Bois, Gemmelaincourt, Rouvres-La-Chétive, Martinvelle, Champdray, Martigny-Les-Bains, Ferdrupt, La Chapelle-Devant-Bruyères, Châtenois, Étival-Clairefontaine, Herpelmont, Sercœur, Sanchey, Docelles, Fraize, Taintrux, Provenchères-Sur-Fave, Autigny-La-Tour, Légéville-Et-Bonfays, Deycimont, Aumontzey, Saint-Jean-D'ormont, Cheniménil, Rambervillers, Ban-De-Sapt, Lubine, Moyemont, Gironcourt-Sur-Vraine, Jeanménil, Bruyères, Rugney, Bellefontaine, Damblain, Champ-Le-Duc, Frebécourt, Landaville, La Voivre, Grandrupt, Destord, Lusse, Hennezel, Bouzemont, Gerbamont, Fays, Claudon, Belval, Grandrupt-de-Bains, La Neuveville-devant-Lépanges, Pouxeux, Les Rouges-Eaux, Domrémy-la-Pucelle, Igney, Chantraine, Uzemain, Hadol, Nayemont-les-Fosses, Jeuxey, Mazirot, Wisembach, Sauville, Vrécourt, Faucompierre, Brouvelieures, Ambacourt, Cleurie, Fremifontaine, Brechainville
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