The Vosges…. once, together with the Black Forest, a huge mountain range. Until Italy found it necessary to collide with Europe some thirty million years ago. This created the Alps and the huge plate on which the old mountains lay broke and largely collapsed. In the enormous groove that was created then, the Rhine now separates the Western Vosges from the Black Forest in the East.

The ridge that remained formed the border between France and Germany from 1871 to 1918. 1918, you read that right. The end of the First World War. Afterwards, boundaries were literally shifted, but you can already imagine that the terrain of the Vosges during WW I was a particularly turbulent area…

This 'Medium' route from the collection of Vosges South out of Col de Bussang is a route that seeks the perfect balance between tourism and extensive motorcycle fun.
The route runs largely on green Michelin roads, offers sufficient variation between elongated parts and spicy curves, history and relaxation and all this in a pleasant setting in which it is wonderful to drive. The difference with the 'Small' route from the same collection is 80 kilometers due to the addition of some lovely twisters and (very) twisty loops.

A few kilometers after the start at the Col de Bussang, you can immediately refuel so that the 253 kilometers of this route can be completed without any problems. As is customary, there is also a petrol station at the end of the route. You just fill up where it suits you best…

The route first heads west along the Moselle River, which originates nearby (500 meters from the hotel and the start of the route). You cross the Moselle a few times in this western part of the route and it is amazing to see how large the newly created river is only a few kilometers from its source…

Just before Ramonchamp the route dives into the wooded hills and we even leave the 'Vosges' area for a while to end up in the 'Haute Saône'. Agriculture and forestry alternate here on the way to Faucogney-et-la-Mer, the westernmost point of the route. Before arriving there, we first pick up the first rubber eaters and we put the tires nice and warm in preparation for the entire tour.

After Faucogney-et-la-Mer, a lovely winding road takes you east through a cooling forest area, steeped in small lakes that help regulate water management here and there. For enthusiasts, there are also several waterfalls that are worth a visit.

Another passage starts in the Foret du Revers Aux Chiens just before the Col de Chevrères. The route makes a strong southerly loop here that is wonderful to drive because of the very nice curves that last until the return to the main road in Fresse-sur-Moselle. Actually, this 40 kilometers of pure fun, which even has an interesting fact…

In Plancher-les-Mines, during the Thirty Years' War, lived a beautiful and virtuous girl named 'Inès'. In the village it was known that the Swedish soldiers had a more than bad reputation…. Looting, massacres, rapes, fire…, nothing was too much for them and no one was spared… . When the villagers of Plancher-les-Mines heard that the Swedes were on their way to their village, Inès fled with the other girls of the village to a higher rock near the village, hoping that the rough Swedes would not find them there. Unfortunately…
Hidden in the woods, Inès saw the captain appear on his foaming horse. Their eyes met and they instantly fell in love. The appearance of the beautiful young woman and the tough warrior did not leave them untouched… But before the leader could admonish his warriors to calm and mercy, the damage was already done…. Some savage had meanwhile also seen the pretty girls and, eager for prey, they hastened to the frightened girls to indulge their lusts. Inès, the great example for all the girls present, had no choice but to throw herself into the pond below to escape from the wild warriors. All the girls followed her example and also jumped into the dark pond, and with it their certain death...
The leader jumped after Inès in an attempt to save her but found only her lifeless body surrounded by the wild water lilies…
The sorrowful soldier then took his dagger and engraved on a plank an epitaph for the love he had unfortunately never known….. 'La Planche des Belles Filles'….

You can dream away romantically here, but remember that the winding road between Plancher-les-Mines and Fresse-sur-Moselle will also demand your attention. It is a lovely piece of road with tasty clothespins, and the views along the way are also wonderful to see at times. If you wish, you can also enjoy a nice waterfall on this part, the 'Cascade de la Goutte des Saules' shortly after the passage through Planche-des-Mines (4 km).

The section between Fresse-sur-Moselle and Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle may be a more 'boring' stretch of road, but it will take you very quickly to the winding road that leads you to the Col du Ballon d'Alsace, also a highlight of the Vosges that you can check off with this one. From the Ballon d'Alsace it is possible – in clear weather of course – to see as far as the Alps. So worth it for a small stop. There are various places where you can, if desired, sit down for a cup of coffee or a quick bite.

Shortly after the Ballon, on this route you will also pass the Lac d'Alfeld, a reservoir built by the Germans. Lovers of splashing water can dismount here to take the short walk to the 'Cascade du Wasserfall', on the other side of the lake.

Then the excellent road surface takes you fairly easily to Masevaux-Niederbruck, where the cornering party is back in full swing by means of a 70 kilometer long asphalt eater… your tires will have known it… .

Through the Forêt Communale d'Oderen you reach the Thur reservoir – the largest reservoir on the eastern flank of the Vosges – before descending back towards the Col de Bussang.

For the tourists among us, however, there is still an important place to mention, although it is only 5 kilometers from the final destination… The 'Tunnel de Bussang' or the Tunnel d'Urbes'.
If both time and weather conditions permit, a visit to this area, even if it is with a walk, is very nice.

The Vosges massif has always been a logistical challenge literally lying between the Alsace and the rest of France. Various attempts were made to make tunnels through the massif and the Tunnel d'Urbes or the Tunnel de Bussang are striking, surviving memories of this. The original plan was to build an 8,287 meter long (railway) tunnel through the massif here. All necessary works for this were started, but in 1935 the project was stopped due to economic reasons + also the threat of war. Once the tunnel was in place, it was a breeze for the Germans to re-invade France without the hindrance of the Vosges massif. After the war, it was considered to resume the works, but a little later they were definitively stopped. However, the remains of this are still present and can sometimes even be called hallucinatory, just look at the Viaduc Ferroviare that suddenly, completely isolated, looms up in the middle of the field without any apparent purpose…

After a possible visit to the tunnels and the Viaduc Ferroviaire, the smooth loops of the Bussang will take you back to the hotel where you can continue the relaxation of the ride.

This route is absolutely suitable for both the beginner who wants to start with mountain rides and for the advanced pilot who wants to keep his skills warm. The route offers the desired variety and here and there the technical challenges that put the pepper where it is needed..., although it all still remains reasonably civilized and within limits. The length of the route is also quite bearable, even for the beginner.