Fays offers several different ways to explore: a cycling tour reaches the village after following the ridge of the Helledraye massif, the Circuit des Forfeleuses passes through a beech forest to a viewpoint, and a puzzle trail puts challenges at the centre of the experience. There is also a historic landmark on a municipal boundary. These differences can help you choose what to focus on during your stay—cycling, walking or a treasure hunt.
Cycling along the ridge of the Helledraye massif
The Boucle patrimoine n° 16 – La vallée de la Vologne follows the ridge of the Helledraye massif before reaching Fays. The route therefore takes in both the ridgeline and the arrival in the village. It also features 14 stops with QR codes and an audio track. This adds an audio component to the ride, complementing the route with another way to discover the area. If you choose cycling as your main activity, you can plan to enjoy both the scenery along the ridge and the route’s audio features.
Forest, stream crossing and views on the Circuit des Forfeleuses
On the Circuit des Forfeleuses, the scenery alternates with individual points of interest. After crossing a stream, the trail passes through a beech forest. It also leads to a former sandstone quarry and a hilltop viewpoint, and passes close to the Stèle Bégel. The route thus offers several specific highlights: a stream crossing, a stretch through the forest, an elevated viewpoint and places connected with the area’s history. This variety sets the Circuit apart from an activity whose main thread is a challenge or puzzle.
A dated landmark on the municipal boundary
The Croix de Faîte stands in the Forêt de Faîte, a municipal forest belonging to Bruyères, on the boundary between the municipalities of Bruyères and Fays. It dates from 1686. This makes it a clearly dated landmark for visitors interested in cultural heritage. Together with the Stèle Bégel and the former sandstone quarry, it provides a range of historical points of interest: a cross on a municipal boundary and sites along the Circuit des Forfeleuses. A walk can therefore combine views of notable places with an appreciation of their individual significance.
Puzzles instead of trail markers
Jeu de piste Ă Fays is a family-friendly treasure hunt on a 3 km unmarked loop. Participants solve puzzles to find a solution word and a treasure. The focus here is on solving puzzles, rather than on a series of viewpoints or nature stops. The 3 km loop gives you a concrete distance to plan for; you should also take its lack of trail markers into account when preparing. This treasure hunt therefore differs both from the cycling tour with its QR-code stops and from the scenery-focused Circuit des Forfeleuses.
Getting around and choosing a focus for your stay
For the Circuit des Forfeleuses, there is a car park just after the entrance to the village, in front of Fays Town Hall. Check the parking situation before setting off, as it may change.
When choosing what to focus on during your visit, the activity and its content matter most: the Boucle as a cycling tour with audio features, the Circuit with its stream crossing, forest and viewpoint, or the Jeu de piste with its puzzles. If you are looking for a hotel in Fays, you can base your search on the experience that brings you here. This gives you a clear idea of what you would like to do in Fays as you begin planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Le Syndicat, Remiremont, Plainfaing, Nayemont-les-Fosses, Le Clerjus, Sauville, Le Valtin, Thiéfosse.
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