The Fave flows through Colroy-La-Grande, and the historic settlement is concentrated along the river. Together, the waterway and the town’s history shape how visitors find their way around. The area also has a high proportion of woodland, a ridge to the north, and buildings with clearly stated dates and locations. This creates a destination that brings together landscape, architecture and history, which can be explored through specific features.
Landscape between the Fave and Voyemont
Woodland covers 76 percent of Colroy-La-Grande. The Fave valley widens considerably where it meets the Sainte-Catherine River. To the north, the Voyemont massif borders the town; its elevation is given as 793 metres. These features describe different aspects of the landscape: the extent of woodland, the river and its confluence, and the ridge along the northern edge. If you would first like to get a feel for the destination, you can consider these landmarks together.
Church, Chapel and Historic Traces
The parish church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste is located at Devant l'Eglise in Colroy-La-Grande and was rebuilt in 1772. The Chapel of Saint-Sébastien is at 2 Faubourg Saint-Sébastien. It houses statuettes of the saint and was probably built in the 16th century to accommodate an ossuary. The two places of worship offer different historical details: the church’s rebuilding date is known, while the chapel’s construction date is only presumed. Its statuettes add a specific religious detail to its architectural history.
A series of ten boundary markers from the Ancien Régime extends across several named municipalities and also includes Colroy-La-Grande. The markers are made of pink sandstone. Thus, alongside individual buildings, boundary stones are among the town’s historic traces. The number ten refers to the series across several municipalities, not to a collection located solely in Colroy-La-Grande.
The Railway Viaduct
The railway viaduct is located on Rue Cachée. The Compagnie de l'Est built it between 1923 and 1928. It has six arches, is 86 metres long, and carries the railway over the valley of the Dirangoutte stream. Its construction period, design and function tell a different kind of local history from that of the church and chapel: here, the focus is on a railway infrastructure structure whose dimensions and purpose are both tangible.
Hiking and Choosing Your Trip
The La Roche des FĂ©es hiking trail is 8 km long, has an elevation gain of 290 metres and is marked with a red circular waymark. The distance and elevation gain answer different planning questions: the kilometres describe the route, while the elevation gain adds information about the climb. Together with the waymark, these details distinguish the route from the historic buildings. If you would rather focus on an outdoor activity than on architecture when choosing your stay, this hike offers a different focus.
To decide whether Colroy-La-Grande suits your stay, you can weigh up its different features: the Fave, the woodland and Voyemont shape the landscape; the church, chapel, viaduct and boundary markers represent different historical connections; and the hiking trail adds specific activity details to the mix. This makes it possible to assess the destination according to your interests in landscape, history or hiking.
Discover more destinations: Baudricourt, Deycimont, Rochesson, Fremifontaine, Saint-Julien, La Voivre, Pouxeux, Gironcourt-Sur-Vraine
For the overview of the wider region: Vosges.
