N°26 : THE MORTAGNE CROSSES PATH

Join the tour :From Bruyères, take the direction of Saint-Dié-Des-Vosges. In Brouvelieures, head for Rambervillers. Shortly after Brouvelieures, take the first tarred road which is limited to 50km/h. Arrived in Mortagne, at first, follow the direction of Saint-Dié-Des-Vosges then stop at the church/city-hall of Mortagne. Park your car on the parking lot before the church.

Description of the tour :This hiking trail will make you discover 4 hamlets which are called “Bouts”, and 10 calvaries. When leaving the parking lot, turn left, you are walking by the church and the cemetary, the first calvary appears. Notice its foot of hexagonal section. Go to the right, you arrive in Bout du Milieu (name of the hamlet). You will soon discover the second calvary, one of the most beautiful with four faces presenting tools from old trades. After you looked at the well renovated washing place, you won’t miss the third calvary on your right. 100 meters away, at the house number 19, go on the sunken pathway that goes up on the right. The Holveck cross which is the fourth calvary, is nestled high up in its beautiful forest environment. Continue and turn left at the forest path. The cross of Droites will appear soon (fifth calvary). After observing it, retrace your steps during 50meters to go back on the sunken pathway that will lead you on the tarred road. Before going in front, do not miss the sixth calvary nestled near the house on your left. Its cross is magnificent. You are in Bout du Dessus. After few houses with Virgin Mary niches above the front doors, go on a dirt path right after the last house. After a journey through meadows and forests, you will cross a small ford before meeting a forest road that will lead you to Bout du Monde via the left. It is written on the house. Here as well, the seventh calvary. Walk by it and the tarred road will lead you to Bout du Dessous. At the junction, do not miss the washing place and the eighth calvary. Go up on the right and discover the nineth calvary in 100 meters. You leave the village to discover the Blanche cross, the tenth calvary which has lost its color. By turning immediately to the left, you take the direction of the church and your parking lot.