The Vosges…. once, together with the Black Forest, a huge mountain range. Until Italy found it necessary to bump into Europe some thirty million years ago. This created the Alps and the huge plate on which the old mountains lay broke and collapsed to a large extent. 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 is the approach route that takes you from Hasselt in Belgium to the front door of the Motorhotel du Col de Bussang. It's a typical transit route, so you won't find many tourist stops or points of interest here. Lots of stops. Make use of it so that the route remains palatable for the delicate souls who also want to taste the delicacies of the French Vosges.

The route starts in Hasselt on the immense parking lot of the Carrefour. It is ideally located as a starting point: just next to the highway, it is possible to have breakfast or picnic shopping and the place is large enough to park safely and take the time to greet each other.

The first stretch takes you past Liège. Liege can be very confusing and busy for those who are not used to it. That is why a 'regrouping point' has been set up just after the Liège interchange, should the group have broken up. There is also a refueling facility there, but remember, refueling in Luxembourg is and remains cheaper…

At route point 4 you cross the border with Luxembourg. A little later you 'round' the city of Luxembourg, after which you will soon encounter the 'Aire de Berchem', the last major gas station on the motorway just before the French-Luxembourg border.

We recommend driving past here and taking the next exit after the Aire de Berchem in the direction of rp 5. There you can refuel much cheaper and it is less time to queue.

The route then returns you to the motorway, crosses the Luxembourg-French border (rp6) and descends further south towards Thionville and Metz.

In Metz you cross the Moselle (rp7). A river that you will hear much more about in the 'Vosges Mountains The ultimate collection' route collection. You even visit the (very small) source of this river.

Just past Metz and before the first péage we leave the highway. At rp 8 we take an extended and well-deserved break in 'Auberge De Vezon'. Nice covered terrace and excellent parking; nice in sight.

Now it's only 190 kilometers on normal roads, a nice light drive because we include two more stops, but you are of course free to add more.

You descend further south to have a (coffee) break again at Lunéville. This way it remains easily digestible and the finish is only 120 kilometers away.

At the height of the famous lake of the Vosges (Lac de Gérardmer) we stop for a while to tackle the last kilometers refreshed. From the rest stop at the banks of the Gérardmer it is only an hour to the final destination, Hotel du Col de Bussang.

This hotel was completely renovated in 2022 and is mainly aimed at fellow motorcyclists. Sufficient storage space is provided and the atmosphere is completely motor-oriented, thanks to the owners/operators. Excellent rooms and meals and there is no shortage of like-minded souls. In other words, the atmosphere is always guaranteed…

The route is and remains an approach route in which a section is taken over the highway. As a result, a five-star rating is obviously not feasible, but the road condition in France makes up for it, as do the ever-improving vistas and increasing twists and turns as you approach the Vosges.