RANDONNEE PEDESTRE - MASSIF DE LA BURE - B1

To be seen: Saint-Dié-des-Vosges / La Pêcherie / La Bure forest road / Celtic Camp / Col de la Crénée / Fontaine du Coeur / La Pêcherie. Good walking shoes recommended. From Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, follow by car the D85 (or the N59 which runs alongside it) in the direction of Nancy for about 2 km. At the entrance of the hamlet of La Pêcherie, at the level of the pizzeria Veneto, take on the right, the forest road indicating "La Bure" which you follow for 1 km until you reach a rather large logging area on your left where you can park your car. Attack with eagerness and enthusiasm (it goes up) the path of the Crasses identified by a plate indicating "Camp Celtique 30 mn" and marked by a green dash meaning that it is part of the GR 533 (long distance hiking path going from Sarrebourg to Belfort). But 30 mn later, the efforts are largely rewarded, because the view from the west gate of the camp is magnificent An orientation table located at the west end of the platform ( alt. 575 m) will help you to locate yourself and identify the surroundings. The site may have been occupied around 2000 B.C. then abandoned for a millennium and a half and reoccupied around 110 B.C. until 353 A.D. Three hundred years later, Déodat came to found Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. From the orientation table, for a complete visit, follow the right red circle and, once you reach the construction site hut, turn left on the green GR dash to the belvedere. Then turn right and follow the rampart that you keep on your left until you reach the rampart. The visit of the camp finished, pass "le Rempart" and continue the path green dash towards the pass of Crénée This shady route (alt.600 m) offers some splendid views over the Hure valley, the heights of Ban-de-Sapt and in the distance over the Rabodeau valley. 20 minutes later, a winding descent allows you to be at an altitude of only 550 m, at the Crénée pass. When you arrive on this large landscaped square, you will find: on your left, a signposted path "A 50m source" leading to a fountain carved out of a green woodpecker and letting clear, fresh water flow; on your right, under the trees, a few wooden benches and tables inviting you to rest Then, go down the forest road towards the Fishery for 50 m and take the red round path that goes down on the left to the Fountain of the Heart, so called because of its heart-shaped basin carved out of sandstone. After having quenched your thirst, follow the marked red round path going north-west towards the Pêcherie, on the mountainside, up to the place called "Le Bache carré" (old disused fountain) where you find the forest road. Take the forest road, which descends gently to the left for 500 m. Leave the road and continue to the right on the circuit des Trois Fontaines (red roundabout). Continue to the crossroads of Rain Champ Côte and take the GR 533 to the left towards La Pêcherie and Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. 800 m further down, you will find your car. Marking: Red circle, green dash.