Ponds, churches with a history of St. James, and a circular trail offer several ways to explore La Chapelle-Devant-Bruyères during a stay. Each has a different focus: Les étangs du Moulin represents the landscape, the churches tell the story of several historical periods, and the US Trail 3: Col de l'Arnelle combines a specific route with a historical background.
The scale of the pond complex
Les étangs du Moulin covers a total of 30 hectares. Of this, 17 hectares are water, spread across eight ponds. These figures describe both the size of the entire complex and the proportion covered by water: the ponds form part of a larger area. They offer a tangible introduction to the natural landscape of La Chapelle-Devant-Bruyères, without reducing the complex to a single body of water. If you take an interest in nature when choosing where to visit, this offers a different focus from the churches and their architectural history.
The history of St. James and the churches
At the Église du hameau de Saint-Jacques, the former choir and the bell tower were listed as historical monuments by decree on 16 July 1984. Only the bell tower and former choir remain of the original Saint-Jacques chapel. These two architectural features are therefore important reference points in the chapel’s history. Another church is the Église Saint-Jacques du Stat, which dates from the Carolingian period. It was enlarged in 1878 and subsequently took on its final form. The information about the churches thus points to different dates: the Carolingian origins and later enlargement of the Église Saint-Jacques du Stat, and the 1984 listing of specific parts of the Église du hameau de Saint-Jacques.
You can visit the Église Saint-Jacques du Stat independently, without a guide; guided tours are available on request. There is also an annual event associated with the history of St. James: the Les Amis de Saint-Jacques association holds a celebration in honour of St. James the Greater every year in late July. His feast day is 25 July. If you would like to plan your trip around this celebration, check the dates for the current year in advance.
A circular trail with landscape and historical interest
The US Trail 3: Col de l'Arnelle is a 9.9-kilometre circular trail with 155 metres of elevation gain. It is rated easy and takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes; difficulty and duration may vary depending on conditions. The approximate duration gives you a guide for planning your day, while the route length and elevation gain provide more detail about the loop. The trail passes through a predominantly wooded area. Fierce close-quarters fighting took place there, and Nisei soldiers were able to secure a strategic position. Both landscape and history are part of the character of this loop, without going beyond the documented historical details.
Plan your stay around your interests
The pond complex and the circular trail offer different ways to explore the area: at Les étangs du Moulin, the focus is on the total area, the water surface and the eight ponds; for US Trail 3, the route length, elevation gain and approximate duration are provided. The churches, in turn, invite you to explore the history of St. James through their building phases, surviving features and visitor access. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a stay in La Chapelle-Devant-Bruyères, these topics can help you decide what interests you most. Whether you are especially interested in nature, architectural history, the celebration in late July or a walk in the woods depends on your travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Fontenoy-Le-Château, Hadol, Rouvres-En-Xaintois, Xertigny, Senones, Remiremont, Fays, Chantraine.
View the full travel guide: Vosges.
