Secret Vosges: experience the unexpected with Remiremont

The Holy Mount.

© OTRP

Close your eyes, breathe, let go… that’s it, you’re in the southern Vosges, in Remiremont, Plombières-les-Bains and Le Val-d’Ajol! Far from the crowds and off the beaten track, here we know how to take the time to live! In a preserved natural environment, little nuggets reveal themselves to visitors who love the forest and are looking for beautiful encounters and moments to share.

Nearly 500 km of hiking trails and 200 km of mountain biking circuits invite you to explore this territory rich in history and natural sites. You will then be able to discover our waterfalls, our ponds, our viewpoints over the Vosges valleys but also the many producers who will know how to awaken your taste buds. Honey, cheeses, charcuterie, blueberries or snails, gourmets will necessarily enjoy it. Do not leave without stopping at Val-d’Ajol, a city of taste, to taste or take away the famous andouille!

The Vosges Secrètes are also gardens like no other. Mountain gardens, collaborative and educational gardens, poetic or playful gardens, it’s a whole universe that will allow you to better understand the environment around us, biodiversity, learn how to garden better, recognize edible plants and share moments with exciting enthusiasts!

Meet at La Vigotte, in Girmont-Val-d’Ajol. On this atypical site, the word transition takes on its full meaning. Ecological transition, personal transition, the Vigotte Lab is a unique third place in France, in the heart of the Vosges mountains, where you can meet scientists who work on the adaptation of the natural environment to climate change, a yoga teacher or more hikers in transit at the hostel. On the site, you can try “no kill” fishing, go on an orienteering race to discover the fauna and flora or take an eco-responsible hike to clean up our beautiful coniferous forest.

A little further, still in Girmont-Val-d’Ajol, take to the skies and discover the garden “A fig in the pear tree” where, at an altitude of 640 m, you will visit a permaculture forest garden. . This collaborative space is a laboratory for initiatives related to living organisms where nearly 500 plant species from the 5 continents flourish under the green thumb of Lilian the gardener and Marjolaine, the geohistorian. Workshops and various activities offer a space for knowledge and exchange for a summer of nature discovery.

A pedal stroke and you are in the forest, direction Plombières-les-Bains for the “Terraced Gardens”. This garden park aims to be a friendly and collaborative place with unusual and magical settings, with practical ecology workshops, an atypical vegetable garden and a barefoot path… all your senses will be awakened! And for the more athletic, climb the trees for a tree climbing course.

Plombières-les-Bains is also the magnificent “imperial park” where families can walk there, discover the main monuments of the Grand Est at the Miniatures Park or even try their hand at minigolf. Take the opportunity to take a break in the historic heart, the city of a thousand balconies is a “small city of character” which has kept all the charm of the Napoleon III era.

Finally, the arcades of Remiremont, the coquette, are an essential step for your shopping. A drink on a terrace near a fountain will definitely evoke the southern character of this city with its unique history. The canonesses of Remiremont, who ruled the city for centuries, thus made it rich by leaving an important heritage, as evidenced by the church and the abbey palace.

For those who wish to immerse themselves in this history, walk towards the Saint Mont, in the Massif du Fossard, the cradle of the origin of the city. You will appreciate the spectacular view from the small chapel at the top. Extend your discovery by stopping at the Tête des Cuveaux, in Éloyes, where spirituality and healing will be at the rendezvous!

History enthusiasts, the two museums of Remiremont are full of collections that echo local history. This parenthesis in our Secret Vosges will be a unique experience made of beautiful encounters and beautiful landscapes, far from the crowds and the hustle and bustle. Here we reinvent the essential with the promise of a reconnection to nature!

New in 2022

The brochure “Les Rencards de l’été”: from June 1 to September 30

Share moments of meeting with the tourist actors who animate and live their territory! With its partners, the Tourist Office has selected nature, gastronomy, heritage or know-how outings and offers guided tours, outdoor activities, tastings, workshops that awaken the senses and make memories. Tourists as well as locals will necessarily find a date made for them among the 43 service providers and more than 300 appointments broken down into 3 themes: nature, terroir and heritage & know-how.

Prepare your hikes in Val-d’Ajol

Go to the hiking center, you will find all the information to organize your hiking and cycling outings: hiking / mountain biking map, IGN map, sporting events… We welcome you to the heart of a universe totally focused on hiking with a specialized shop (walking sticks, water bottles, headlamps, etc.).

Mountain biking and e-mountain biking

You can also rent mountain bikes and AE mountain bikes, in order to take advantage of the large playground in the Val-d’Ajol forest. At the Remiremont Tourist Office, it is also possible to rent AE hybrid bikes, hybrid bikes and children’s bikes to experience our trails and greenway.

Do not miss !

• The flea markets and flea markets in Plombières-les-Bains which take place on the 2^e Sunday of each month until October.
• The night markets of Girmont-Val-d’Ajol every Friday evening, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., from June 24 to August 26.

Remiremont-Plombières Tourism
Remiremont office – Tel. 03 29 62 23 70
Plombières-les-Bains office – Tel. 03 29 66 01 30
Le Val-d’Ajol office – Tel. 03 29 30 61 55
www.tourisme-remiremont-plombieres.com