BALADE FAMILLE - CIRCUIT DE LA VIERGE

Circuit of the Virgin (Commune of Le Thillot). Duration: about 1h30. Difficulty: easy (family walk with children). Distance: 4 kilometres. Elevation gain: 84 meters. Markings: yellow triangle, mountain bike circuit n°14, unmarked portions. Places of interest: the Hautes-Mynes Museum, the view over the valley from the Virgin of the Liberation. Departure point: parking of the Omnisport hall (Maurice Schoenacker), next to the Hautes-Mynes Museum. Access : from the center of Le Thillot, follow the direction of Lure. The Musée des Hautes-Mynes is 500 meters further on the right. Description of the route : From the car park, go behind the building of the Tourist Office and the Hautes Mynes Museum to find the Green Way. Continue on the Voie Verte along the factory that you will see on your left with its big chimney.Arrived at the 1st barrier of the Voie Verte, take the small road on the left and continue on approximately 300 meters where you will pass between old worker's housing estates.At the end of the road, pass the red chicane and take the small path which leads to a small bridge which crosses the brook of Vacceux. The children will perhaps have the chance to observe small fishes there... Continue on this path which goes up to a second red chicane. Continue straight on for 200 meters. On your right, you will see a house and will join the tarred road. After 30 meters, take the dirt road on the right and follow the yellow triangle signposted "Le Pré Martin / Etang de la Peau". You can take a short break on the bench and discover the village of Le Thillot in front of you. Follow this path for about 800 meters. At the intersection, turn right and follow the direction "Point de vue de la Vierge". Once you arrive at the Vierge, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Le Thillot with its church overlooking the village, of the village of Ramonchamp on your left or of the valley of Ménil in front of you. Go back on your steps for about 200 meters. At the first intersection, at the end of the descent, take the small grassy path which goes down on the right. Continue on this path at the edge of the forest which will lead you to a farm at the end of the road. Once on the tarmac road, go down for about 600 metres then take the first right. Follow the MTB signs n°14 and you will arrive at a house which is situated in a dead end with a chicken coop on your right. Turn left and follow the MTB sign n°14 on the grassy path. Turn right onto the tarmac road until you reach a crossroads to join the Voie Verte. Take the Voie Verte on the right and go straight on for about 200 meters to finish the walk and find the starting point.