The church, the Gerlach exhibition and the hiking options give visitors different reasons to spend time in Luvigny. The statue of Notre-Dame de la Maix is housed in the church of Saint-Barthélémy; the waymarked La Hazelle-Col d'Asson circular trail passes the prehistoric Dolmen de la Hazelle. When choosing between culture and outdoor activities, the historical details, trail length and conditions for donkey walks are also worth considering.
Cultural history in Luvigny
The church of Saint-Barthélémy was built in 1779 and houses the black, painted wooden statue of Notre-Dame de la Maix. The statue probably dates from the 18th century and is listed as a historic monument. The year 1779 dates the construction of the church; the statue is probably attributed to the 18th century.
Émile Gerlach also connects cultural history with the local area. He spent the last twenty years of his life in Luvigny. In June 2023, the municipality opened a permanent exhibition about his life and work; it is located in the square named after the artist. The exhibition in the square named after him is devoted to the life and work of Gerlach, who spent the last twenty years of his life in Luvigny.
Circular trail to the dolmen
La Hazelle-Col d'Asson is a difficult ten-kilometre circular trail. It starts in the centre of Luvigny, passes the prehistoric Dolmen de la Hazelle and returns to Luvigny at the end. The trail is waymarked and permanently free to access; check the access conditions again before your trip.
Independent donkey walks
La Forêt ân'imée offers independent walks with a pack donkey. You can choose between a leisurely one-hour walk and a full-day outing. The activity is available by reservation only; check the booking requirement again when planning. For the donkey walks, La Forêt ân'imée provides a pack saddle, saddlebags, lead ropes, an IGN map of the massif, a compass and a first-aid kit. “Independent” describes the format of the walk; a reservation is still required.
Rocher des Hauts Champs
Rocher des Hauts Champs offers a distinct landscape feature. It lies on the boundary between the communal forest of Luvigny and the Bois-Sauvage state forest, on a very steep spur at an elevation of around 650 metres. The Vosges sandstone rock formation is riddled with passages and extends for more than 200 metres. Its location, approximate elevation and rock structure give this landscape feature a character distinct from that of the church or the hiking trail.
Planning your trip: key considerations
The circular trail and the donkey walks also differ in what is highlighted in their descriptions: for the La Hazelle-Col d'Asson trail, the focus is on its length, difficulty and the dolmen along the route; for La Forêt ân'imée, the duration options and reservation requirement are important. This can help you choose an activity based on the amount of time you want to spend and your hiking plans.
Discover more destinations: Bonvillet, Morizécourt, Saint-Remy, Bruyères, Vrécourt, Taintrux, Golbey, Martinvelle
For the regional travel overview: Vosges.
