In Houdémont, hiking trails and sweeping views meet traces of a vibrant village history. Two viewpoints offer different perspectives on the surrounding area, while water, woodland and a variety of tree species add further dimensions to the place. If you are considering Houdémont as a travel destination, you can explore its cultural and natural highlights separately or deliberately combine them when planning your visit.
Views and trails around Houdémont
The Houdémont viewpoint offers panoramic views across the Métropole area and its surroundings as far as the Vosges massif. For a different perspective, visit the grounds of Montauban above the village: from there, the view stretches across the urban area and the entire southern Meurthe Valley. If you would like to compare the viewpoints described here, their main difference is the angle and the landscape each one takes in. The orientation board at the Houdémont viewpoint was restored in 2019 by the municipality together with the Fondation Lotharingie.
Houdémont has four signposted hiking trails that pass through the town’s varied natural landscapes. The hiking routes of the Métropole du Grand Nancy can be reached from Houdémont by bus or train; check current connections for your specific travel dates. The circular route no. 14, “Sur les Traces des Leuques,” may also be worth considering when planning your visit: it passes the Château de Montauban and takes a detour to the Houdémont viewpoint. Information about this circular route was updated on July 4, 2025; the route and trail markings may change. Check the current route before setting out.
Water, woodland and tree species
The Fonteno rises in Houdémont and flows for 6.4 kilometres through Houdémont, Heillecourt and Jarville-la-Malgrange before joining the Meurthe. The Pré de la Source du Fonteno was restored in 2023 to welcome walkers using the hiking trails that cross the area. The stream and its surroundings give water a tangible place in the municipality’s landscape.
The Parc du Fonteno, also known as Parc aux oiseaux, lies below the Fonteno pond in damp woodland. Nesting boxes there provide a refuge for local birds. An educational trail in the arboretum lets visitors observe a wide variety of tree species from every continent. The Parc de la Ronchère opened to the public in 1989. These four places represent different aspects of nature: a watercourse, a damp woodland, tree species and the history of a park.
Village history and local tradition
Houdémont’s church was built in 1855 on the site of a former chapel. It houses a 16th-century statue of Saint Goëric and an 18th-century carved wooden pulpit from Toul Cathedral. Another notable structure is the covered washhouse, which is a feature of the village centre, with its network of cobbled streets. Along the hillside paths in the municipal forest, you can see Napoleonic boundary stones.
The local tradition surrounding the Rouge Bonnet is also part of Houdémont’s cultural identity. Treasure hunts, processions and sporting events linked to the municipality’s water sources keep this tradition alive. Individual activities do not necessarily take place every year; if you would like to include one in your travel plans, check in advance whether it is scheduled for your dates.
A date for wine and gastronomy
Houdémont’s Salon du Vin et de la Gastronomie takes place every year on the first weekend of November at the Mancès sports complex. More than 30 exhibitors present culinary and wine specialties over three days. As dates, venue and exhibitor numbers may change, it is a good idea to check the latest event details before your trip. This will help you plan a visit to the salon alongside the natural and cultural attractions that interest you in Houdémont.
Discover more destinations: Thiaucourt-Regniéville, Froville, Fey-En-Haye, Moncel-Lès-Lunéville, Toul, Bernécourt, Bulligny, Baccarat.
Explore the regional travel guide: Meurthe-Et-Moselle.
