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 'XXL' route from the collection of Vosges South out of Col de Bussang is a great saddle patch. Including breaks, it will still take you 10 hours to complete the route. You and your rubbers will have known…

This route also runs largely on green Michelin roads and offers sufficient variation between elongated parts and spicy curves, history and relaxation, all in a beautiful natural environment in which it is wonderful to drive. This 345 km route is twice as long as the SMALL version of the Vosges South and 93 km longer than the MEDIUM of the same series.

Experienced hands will blow from the tower at night that it was 'a cinch. Then suddenly think that - most likely - they were still applying baby ointment 5 minutes before in a few sunlight-poor places…

It is certain that a beginner without stamina should not start here, also given the fact that there are still a few pinches in the last kilometers of the route and some of them still require good concentration and control.
Anyway, an informed man/woman may have now understood the message.

A few kilometers after the start at the Col de Bussang, you can immediately refuel, after which the bend along the Moselle and to the west can be started. It's amazing to see how big the newly formed Moselle is just a few kilometers from its source…

Just before Ramonchamp the route dives into the wooded hills and even briefly leaves the 'Vosges' area 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 further 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 to 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.

After the Ballon d'Alsace we leave the route of the SMALL & MEDIUM brothers for a while to dive further south. A highly detoured loop over Giromagny takes us further south after we chase the Ballon descent past our front fork.

The elongated piece of asphalt through the Forët de Roppe is a pleasant change from the previous bend section. However, that does not last long, because once you reconnect with the other route brothers in Masevaux-Niederbruck, the load changes follow each other in rapid succession. The loop along Roderen makes the tires warm again and that temperature will come in handy during the next tour through the Bois de Wattwiller.

You will then be given a few breathers on the 35 km stretch between the Firstacker summit and the Thur reservoir, the Lac de Kruth-Wildenstein. Here you can especially enjoy the beautiful views and – if desired – the pleasant rest areas that you will encounter along the way.

The MEDIUM route descends from the reservoir back to the hotel, where the XXL opens an extra register. The very cozy Bramont is first on the menu, followed by the tire pests of La Bresse, a cozy village, located on the banks of the Moselotte, the 'little' sister of the big Moselle. A long stretcher then takes you to the Col d'Oderen and there the horse starts to smell the stable again. A south turn will take you past the last petrol station on the route and also back towards the hotel.

Perhaps you will no longer have the time and energy to visit the Tunnel d'Urbès, but that is not the intention of this XXL at all. We just mention the place on the route, if there is possibly a rest day or so on the program the next day. In any case, it is a nice place to take in the history of the region.

This route is, as stated in the beginning, not really suitable for the novice pilot. It will all be possible, but too much is harmful. However, for the advanced pilot who has already built up some stamina, the route should not be a problem; the asphalt is perfect, the curves wonderfully spiced, at times even well peppered and the length is palatable.