Discover Provenchères-Sur-Fave

Provenchères-Sur-Fave lies at the confluence of the Fave and the Sainte-Catherine stream. For orientation, its specific elevation points, location in the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park, and architectural and border history offer different perspectives. Hiking trails can also be compared by features such as length, elevation gain, and trail markings.

Location and elevation points

The elevation ranges from 661 metres at the northwestern end near Cimes Argentées to 400 metres at the edge of the Fave. There are 261 metres of elevation difference between these reference points. The figures mark different areas: the northwestern part of the village on the one hand and the river’s edge on the other. Together with the confluence of the Fave and Sainte-Catherine, these features help place Provenchères-Sur-Fave within its landscape. Its location in the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park adds another geographical perspective.

Church and chapel

Sainte-Catherine Church was built in the 12th century; the first three levels of its tower also date from this period. In a later phase of construction, the bell tower was raised and given a double onion dome with a lantern. A neoclassical portal was also added. This makes it possible to distinguish the early parts of the building from later additions. The building’s history therefore includes both its 12th-century origins and later changes to the tower and portal.

The Saint Gondelbert Chapel measures 3 by 4 metres. It consists of a sanctuary that can accommodate only the officiant and an open porch. Its dimensions and layout provide two different architectural reference points: its overall size and the clear division into sanctuary and porch. Unlike the church, the focus here is on its compact dimensions and this spatial arrangement.

Border history and boundary stones

The series “bornes frontalières du Traité de Versailles” is associated with Provenchères-Sur-Fave. It comprises 232 rectangular markers made of Vosges sandstone, which mark the French-German border of 1870. These 232 markers are part of a total of 4,056 boundary stones erected between 1871 and 1877. The years refer to different things: 1870 denotes the border, while the period from 1871 to 1877 refers to the erection of the boundary stones. This makes it possible to distinguish the border line from its later marking in time.

Hiking trails by route features

The “Les Deux Fosse” hiking trail is a 15.5-kilometre route in the low mountain range. It has 325 metres of elevation gain and is marked as a red circular route. “La Roche des Fées” is an 8-kilometre loop in Provenchères-et-Colroy, rated moderate and with 290 metres of elevation gain. Comparing these two routes with stated figures, “La Roche des Fées” is 7.5 kilometres shorter; their elevation gains differ by 35 metres. The comparison shows that the route lengths differ considerably more than the stated elevation gains.

The “Les Chapelles Saint-Gondelbert” trail is designated as a walking route. Its starting point is at 67 Grande Rue Mairie in Provenchères-et-Colroy. Check the local signage before setting off. The starting point and trail designation are provided here, while “Les Deux Fosse” and “La Roche des Fées” can be compared by length, elevation gain, and other route features.

Discover more destinations: Hurbache, Lusse, Sanchey, Nayemont-les-Fosses, Morizécourt, Domrémy-la-Pucelle, Coussey, La Chapelle-Aux-Bois

For the main travel overview: Vosges.