Augny: Hiking Trail, History and Parc Simon

Augny brings together several distinct points of interest for a trip: the La croix des vignes circular trail, historic buildings and Parc Simon with its botanical collection. If you like to take outdoor activities, local history and nature into account when choosing a destination, you’ll find a range of highlights here rather than just one attraction. The hiking trail takes you across slopes, through woodland and orchards; the buildings tell the story of different centuries, while the park adds a botanical touch.

Hiking the Sentier n°17

The Sentier n°17 – La croix des vignes is 3.6 km long, has an elevation gain of 93 m and is rated as moderately difficult. Its length, elevation gain and difficulty rating give you different points of reference when deciding whether this hike fits into your travel plans.

The circular trail crosses slopes and passes through woodland and orchards on its way to the Croix des Vignes, where a rest area awaits hikers. If you’d like to extend the route, you can take an easy detour to the GR5 and across the slopes of Mont Saint-Blaise; this offers views over the Moselle Valley. The rest area is at the named destination, while views over the Moselle Valley are described for the optional extension.

Buildings and Local History

The Tour Saint-Benoît is a fortified building. During the siege led by Charles VII and his “écorcheurs,” it served as a refuge for local residents. The circular trail also lets you admire the Ferme-château de Grosyeux, which dates back to the 16th century. The route thus showcases two different historic buildings: a fortified refuge and an estate dating from the 16th century.

Augny’s parish church is mentioned in a document from 1056. It has stained-glass windows made by the Atelier Benoît de Nancy in the 1960s, as well as a terracotta Stations of the Cross. The dates refer to different aspects: 1056 is the year the church was mentioned in a document, while the 1960s refer to the stained-glass windows.

Viticulture in the past is also part of the area’s history: Augny was once a wine-growing community. The vineyards disappeared with the arrival of phylloxera and industrialisation. This development complements the buildings with a glimpse into the area’s former land use and how the landscape has changed.

Parc Simon

Parc Simon is free to enter and open to the public all year round. If you’re planning a special visit, check the local information in advance. The park is home to a roughly 160-year-old, oddly shaped beech tree known as “joli fou”; in 2013, it received the national “Arbre Remarquable” label. The park also houses a botanical collection of around 300 rare or local species, as well as numerous fruit trees. One award-winning tree and a larger collection offer two distinct botanical highlights here.

Discover more destinations: Ars-Sur-Moselle, Rosbruck, Saarburg, Hambach, Féy, Frauenberg, Rodemack, Terville.

Return to the main travel guide: Moselle.