La Bresse is located in the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park. Forests, mountain lakes and open high-altitude areas known as chaumes shape the area. There are also specific cultural attractions here: the Church of Saint-Laurent bears a special heritage label, and the Maison de La Bresse hosts exhibitions and events where visitors can meet artists. This allows you to consider nature and culture side by side when choosing what interests you on your trip.
Lakes, high-altitude areas and marked trails
Lac des Corbeaux is a glacial lake in La Bresse, surrounded by a fir forest. A footpath accessible to everyone circles the lake in about 30 minutes. You can set aside a manageable amount of time for this walk. Seasonal road conditions may vary, which is worth bearing in mind when planning your visit.
Beyond the lakeside loop, there are also marked trails: La Bresse and the Hautes Vosges offer routes for hiking, cycling, mountain biking, gravel riding, trail running and horse riding. The options range from walking and hiking trails to excursions by bike or on horseback. You can choose which activity to focus on according to your interests, without combining all the trails into a single outing.
In the La Bresse-Lispach Nordic area, cross-country ski trails for classic and skating styles run between lakes, forests, marshes and high plateaus. Access to cross-country skiing depends on seasonal snowfall. This makes it different from the marked hiking and cycling trails: when planning your trip, it is worth keeping your preferred activity and its particular conditions in mind.
Art and cultural heritage
The Church of Saint-Laurent bears the “Patrimoine du vingtième siècle†label. Its architecture includes 28 glass slab windows created by Gabriel Loire between 1951 and 1956. The label, artist and dates give the building a specific art-historical connection. For travellers interested in architecture and art as well as the landscape, this part of the town offers a distinct point of interest.
The Maison de La Bresse hosts heritage exhibitions throughout the year and, as part of guided tours, opportunities to meet artists. During the Festival international de sculpture Camille Claudel, participating sculptors are available to the public for conversations and questions. If you would like to include this opportunity to meet artists in your plans, check the dates of the relevant festival event.
Planning your journey and accommodation
For travel by SNCF services, bus connections run from the stations at Remiremont and Saint-Dié-des-Vosges via Gérardmer to La Bresse. Remiremont can be reached from Paris by TGV; from there, a bus connection is available for onward travel to La Bresse. Check the timetables before your trip so that you can plan your train and bus connections together.
When looking for a hotel in La Bresse, you can first decide what you would like to focus on during your stay: marked hiking and cycling trails, seasonal cross-country skiing or cultural activities. If you are travelling by train, also include the connections from Remiremont or Saint-Dié-des-Vosges in your plans.
Discover more destinations: Les Rouges-Eaux, Gerbamont, Luvigny, Rouvres-La-Chétive, Jeanménil, Charmes, La Voivre, Thiéfosse.
For the broader travel overview: Vosges.
