Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle: Hiking, Chapels and Nature

For a trip to Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle, hiking, mountain biking trails and historical sites offer different ways to explore. The area has 100 km of marked hiking trails, 103 km of approved mountain biking trails and 9.3 km of signposted snowshoe routes. The stated route lengths may change over time. You can compare routes by their specific distances, elevation gains and durations to see which best suits your plans.

Choose hiking routes by distance and walking time

The “Les 2 chapelles” hike is 12 km long, with 510 m of elevation gain, and takes about four hours on foot. It starts at a car park below the Chapelle des Charbonniers and follows a forest track to the Chapelle Botiotte. The easy “Balade famille au Ballon d’Alsace” is shorter: it covers 6 km with 140 m of elevation gain and takes about two hours to walk. The two routes therefore differ in both length and estimated time. Trail conditions and access to the car park may vary by season.

The family hike at the Ballon d’Alsace passes through the protected Réserve Naturelle des Ballons Comtois. Dogs are prohibited there, even on a leash. Check the current rules before your visit. Allow about an hour for the Sentier découverte du Ballon d’Alsace; there are ten information panels and an orientation board along the trail. Seasonal conditions may affect access.

Mountain biking and snowshoe routes

One specific example of the mountain biking trails is the marked FFC loop No. 13, “La Grande Goutte.” It is 20 km long, has 430 m of elevation gain and is rated red for difficulty. These details help you assess the loop in terms of distance, elevation gain and stated difficulty. Trail conditions and seasonal restrictions may vary.

In winter, there are two different points of reference: Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle has 9.3 km of signposted snowshoe routes; at Rouge Gazon, snowshoe loops are offered in winter, depending on snow conditions. In summer, a few cattle still graze on the grasslands of Rouge Gazon. The Chaume des Neufs Bois at Rouge Gazon is a man-made pasture that was formerly used by the Marcaires as summer grazing land. Seasonal use and landscape history come together here, but this does not mean there is a set itinerary for a visit.

Ballon d’Alsace and chapels

At 1,247 m, the Ballon d’Alsace is the highest point in the southern Vosges and lies within the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park. Reach the resort at the Ballon d’Alsace via the village of Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle on the RN66 between Le Thillot and Bussang. There are launch sites for paragliders and hang gliders at the Ballon; check the local rules before flying.

Several buildings also offer a reason to include history in your tour plans. Notre-Dame du Ballon was built in 1862. The Monument des Démineurs at the Ballon d’Alsace was inaugurated on 7 July 1952. The Chapelle des Charbonniers was built in 1860 as a wooden chapel on the Têtote. It provided a place of worship for the hamlet, which was far from the church in Saint-Maurice. The Chapelle Botiotte was built in 1857 and enlarged to its present size in 1873.

The Chapelle Botiotte is also a destination for forest walks near the remains of historic mines. Individual visits via marked trails are free year-round; check access information before your trip. Le pont Montbel is a structure at an altitude of 903 m in the forest, accessible only on foot via several loop trails. The history of these sites and how to reach them offer different points of reference when choosing an outing.

Landscape and horse-riding experiences

La Jumenterie is an equestrian centre on the Vosges side of the Ballon d’Alsace. It offers riding lessons, courses and excursions. These outings may include stops at Ferme-Auberges, where local specialities from Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle are served. Such a stop is possible, but should not be assumed to be part of every outing.

When choosing when to travel, it is worth taking seasonal conditions into account: snowshoe loops at Rouge Gazon depend on snow conditions, and access to trails may vary. If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle, compare the specific offers based on the details that matter to you, such as location and amenities. The hiking routes, chapels and seasonal activities described here provide a range of starting points for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Wisembach, Rouvres-En-Xaintois, Lironcourt, Belval, Champdray, Uzemain, Sainte-Marguerite, Damblain.

For the regional travel overview: Vosges.