La Chapelle-Devant-Bruyères: Ponds, churches and hiking

La Chapelle-Devant-Bruyères offers different points of interest for planning a trip: the Les étangs du Moulin pond complex, the architectural history surrounding Saint-Jacques, and the US Trail 3: Col de l’Arnelle. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can consider whether bodies of water, religious heritage, or a hike with a historical connection match your interests. The subjects range from a clearly quantified waterscape to architectural history and hiking plans.

Les étangs du Moulin pond complex

The Les étangs du Moulin complex covers 30 hectares. Of this, 17 hectares are water, spread across eight ponds. The total area and the water area represent different measures: the water makes up a little more than half of the 30-hectare site. The eight ponds also give the area a different structure from that of a single body of water. If you are looking for a water-focused site to help you choose a destination, this area provides a concrete point of reference.

Architectural history and visiting the churches

The Église Saint-Jacques du Stat dates from the Carolingian period. It was expanded in 1878 and subsequently took its final form. Its architectural history therefore includes an early origin and a later, clearly dated expansion; 1878 refers to the expansion, not to its Carolingian origins. You can visit the church independently, without a guide; guided tours are available on request. Its origins, expansion, and present form are distinct aspects of its architectural history.

Only the bell tower and the former choir remain of the original Saint-Jacques chapel. The former choir and bell tower of the Église du hameau de Saint-Jacques were listed as historic monuments by decree of July 16, 1984. Thus, alongside the building’s development over time, two specific architectural elements are also in focus: the surviving former choir and the bell tower.

Festival in honor of Saint James

The Les Amis de Saint-Jacques association holds a festival in honor of Saint James the Greater every year in late July. His feast day is July 25. If you would like to combine your trip with the festival, check the dates for that year’s event in advance: the saint’s feast day and the festival period are two different dates.

US Trail 3: Col de l’Arnelle

The US Trail 3: Col de l’Arnelle is a 9.9-kilometer circular route with 155 meters of elevation gain. It is rated easy and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Distance, elevation gain, and duration answer different planning questions: the distance describes the route’s length, the elevation gain adds information about its profile, and the time gives an approximate duration for the outing. The difficulty rating and duration may vary depending on conditions, so treat the time as an estimate when planning your day.

The trail passes through a mostly wooded area where fierce close-quarters fighting took place and Nisei soldiers were able to secure a strategic position. The trail thus combines a clearly quantified hiking profile with a specific historical connection. If you also choose a route based on its historical theme, both the approximate time required and this historic setting are relevant considerations.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Fraize, Ambacourt, Beaufremont, Thiéfosse, Rouvres-La-Chétive, Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle, Bulgnéville, Bonvillet.

For the overarching travel guide: Vosges.