Basse-Sur-Le-Rupt: Nature, Hiking Trails and Cultural Heritage

Basse-Sur-Le-Rupt is a mountain village with seven hamlets, situated at an altitude of between 600 and 1,060 metres. Its trails, rocky peaks and cultural sites give the village many different facets: you can explore viewpoints and woodland landscapes, or learn about regional crafts and history. When looking for a hotel, this can help you decide whether the destination’s nature and culture appeal to your travel plans.

Rocky Peaks, Views and Woodland Trails

La Pierre des 4 Communes stands at 1,060 metres and offers panoramic views over the Rupt and La Moselotte valleys. The site is accessible via marked trails and is suitable for family walks as well as nature outings. Other features come together at Haut du Roc: this 1,013-metre-high rocky peak overlooks the Rupt valley and sits on a granite massif covered with sandstone and boulders. Haut du Roc is also a classified natural site. Its summit can be reached on foot in 35 minutes; this walking time is a specific guide for the route, not for a round trip.

If viewpoints are a particular priority on your walk, the Circuit des points de vue La Burotte runs through the forest of the Haut du Roc massif and offers numerous views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. The Boucle des 3 cols also passes over the Col de la Croix des Moinats. The trails therefore offer different features: woodland and views on one route, and a crossing of a named mountain pass on the other. Check seasonal trail conditions before your visit.

The landscape around Hauts de Presles has its own name, too: the area is known as “la petite Suisse” because of its open, unspoilt landscapes. The Chaume de la Piquante Pierre is a protected high-altitude pasture managed by the Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels de Lorraine and accessible from the Col de Menufosse. These places add a protected high-altitude pasture and an open landscape area to the rocky and woodland scenery.

Natural Areas and Their Features

The ZNIEFF that includes Basse-Sur-Le-Rupt encompasses the Forêt domaniale de Noiregoutte state forest. It contains woodland and wetland habitats, some of which were shaped by glacial depressions. The Natura 2000 zone that includes the municipality also encompasses several listed sensitive natural areas, including the Tourbière du Champatre.

Local Crafts and History

The Atelier de Planois, a small workshop with an exhibition and shop, is located in the hamlet of Planois. On display and for sale are toys, home accessories and turned wooden objects made from local wood. During school holidays, the Atelier organises visits with demonstrations of fretwork. As this activity is seasonal, it is a good idea to check the dates before visiting.

The area’s former stoneworking heritage is also evident: the former granite works preserve the remains of a wire stone saw, a horizontal frame stone saw and the turbine that powered these machines. A cultural trail leads from the Chapelle Saint-Del de Gerbamont to the Église Saint-Nicolas de Planois and tells the story of the Maquis de la Piquante-Pierre and the surrounding villages. For visitors interested in cultural heritage as well as the landscape, this trail connects two church sites with a historical theme.

At the Col de la Croix des Moinats, the Monument aux goums marocains commemorates the Moroccan Goums, who distinguished themselves in particular during the Second World War between 1942 and 1945. The military history monument can be visited independently. A ceremony in honour of the Goums is traditionally held at the national monument on 8 May; check before travelling whether the date fits your plans.

Basse-Sur-Le-Rupt can be explored according to your interests: the high-altitude trails lead to viewpoints and through woodland, while the workshop, cultural trail and monument offer further ways to discover local history and crafts. When choosing a hotel for your stay, these differences can help you select a destination that suits the activities you have planned.

Discover more destinations: Bellefontaine, Senones, Plombières-Les-Bains, Celles-Sur-Plaine, Fraize, Sauville, Pouxeux, Monthureux-Sur-Saône.

Back to the main travel overview: Vosges.