LE VALLON SAINT MARTIN

Brittany is not the only region of France to be a land of legends. The Vallon Saint-Martin in the Vosges also promises beautiful surprises. On the path of the valley, fairies, druids and mysterious caves testify through the old stones. Departure: Le Void d'Escles - rue de la féculerie Take the path on the right and enter the woods. The path, quite narrow, goes up the Madon valley which has its source about 3km away A About 300 metres to your right, the ruins of the old mill of Berqueney, below, remain hardly visible. You arrive in the heart of the valley where you find the carved stones of the association "Pierre Avenir" which bring a very special atmosphere to the place. Further upstream, in front of you, stands the Châtelet plateau. Cross the Madon on the small footbridge, then on your right, go up the steep hillside by the Roche aux Chevaux to get to this site (secondary itinerary marked out in the form of a cross). Then go up to the medieval castle mound and then go down through the "lower courtyard" of the castle, taking care to avoid the steep descent and the peak of the "Pierre aux Chevaux". Back on the main itinerary, continue your journey up the steep valley of the Madon At about 400 meters, an old millstone quarry. Continuing along the path, you reach a large square, cross the small barrier in front of you, and a few dozen meters further on, discover the Chapelle Saint Martin. On your left, the Saint Martin cave still keeps its mysteries At 500 meters, after a serious ascent, cross the Madon on the small footbridge on your right. Immediately on your right you can visit the arboretum of Escles. On the plateau, other remains of quarries, long considered as an amphitheatre, were cleared in 2000 Continue the marked circuit and 500 metres further on you will discover the Cuveau des Fées on your right. Going down towards the chapel (beware of the rocky overhangs), you will cross the Sainte Claire fountain and you will then return to the main square. For the return journey, take the rural road n°8 called "chemin rural n°8 dit de Saint-Martin". Pass near the stele in memory of Léon Ruaux, a former inhabitant of Escles who used to visit this place a lot Markings: yellow circle