Houdémont: Hiking, Nature and Local History

Houdémont offers opportunities for a stay focused on hiking, nature watching and local history. Four marked hiking trails, viewpoints and historic sites can help you choose what to focus on during your trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Houdémont, these interests can provide a starting point for choosing your destination.

Hiking Trails and Views

Houdémont has four marked hiking trails through a variety of natural settings. The Pré de la Source du Fonteno was restored in 2023 so that walkers could use the trails that pass through the area. Trail routes and maintenance may change, so check the latest information and markings before setting out.

Two different descriptions offer views across the surrounding area: the viewpoint at Houdémont affords a panorama over the Métropole area and the surroundings as far as the Vosges Mountains. The Montauban grounds above the village offer a view of the urban area and the entire southern part of the Meurthe Valley. The views there may depend on local maintenance.

Loop route No. 14, “Sur les Traces des Leuques,” also leads to the viewpoint at Houdémont: a detour takes you to the viewpoint, and the route also passes Château de Montauban. As routes and markings may change, it is worth checking the latest route information before setting out. The hiking routes of the Métropole du Grand Nancy can be reached from Houdémont by bus or train; check current services when planning your journey.

Fonteno and Nature Watching

The Fonteno rises in Houdémont and flows for 6.4 kilometers through Houdémont, Heillecourt and Jarville-la-Malgrange before joining the Meurthe. Several natural areas are associated with the watercourse: Parc du Fonteno, also known as Parc aux oiseaux, lies below the Fonteno pond in damp woodland. Nesting boxes provide a refuge for local birds.

In the arboretum, a nature trail allows visitors to observe a wide variety of tree species from every continent. This is a different way to experience nature than the hiking trails or the damp woodland at Parc du Fonteno: here, the focus is on the different tree species. You can plan your time outdoors around your preferred interests without treating the different places as if they were the same.

Village Character and History

A covered washhouse marks the center of Houdémont village, surrounded by a network of cobbled streets. Napoleonic boundary stones can be seen along the hillside paths in the municipal forest. Both details give the village a historical character that you can take into account alongside its natural attractions when planning your visit.

Houdémont church was built in 1855 on the site of a former chapel. It houses a 16th-century statue of Saint Goëric. The church’s furnishings also include an 18th-century carved wooden pulpit from Toul Cathedral. Its construction date, origin and features from different centuries make the church a distinct historical point of interest.

The information board at the viewpoint was restored in 2019 by the municipality together with Fondation Lotharingie. As the installation may need maintenance in the future, it is advisable to check its condition before visiting. Parc de la Ronchère was opened to the public in 1989; this date refers to when it opened.

Events and Local Tradition

The Salon du Vin et de la Gastronomie takes place every year on the first weekend of November at the Mancès sports complex. More than 30 exhibitors present culinary and wine specialties there over three days. Dates, venue and exhibitor numbers may change, so check the latest information before planning your trip around the event.

Another local tradition is the legend of the Rouge Bonnet. In Houdémont, it is kept alive through treasure hunts, processions and sports races associated with the town’s water features. The individual activities do not necessarily take place every year; if one of them is important to your trip, check the latest dates. This way, you can choose between a stay focused on trails and landscapes and a trip where local history or an event date carries more weight.

Discover more destinations: Gondreville, Favières, Laxou, Homécourt, Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy, Villers-Lès-Nancy, Pierre-Percée, Mont-Le-Vignoble.

For the wider travel overview: Meurthe-Et-Moselle.