Les Rouges-Eaux can be explored through two themes: the history of water-powered sawmills and the Circuit du Jéal. The easy circular route covers 7.5 kilometres, with 140 metres of elevation gain, and has a stated duration of two hours. Along the way, you’ll encounter pink sandstone, the remains of a former factory and views across the valley. This lets you combine a cultural-history trail with a specific hike when planning your visit.
Sawmills: from permits to surviving machinery
In 1602, building permits were granted for four water-powered sawmills in Les Rouges-Eaux. Maps from the second half of the 18th century offer a different perspective in both time and place: they show 18 sawmills in the forests of Mortagne, four of which are marked as destroyed. These figures relate to different scopes: permits in the village in 1602 and the later depiction of sawmills in the forests of Mortagne.
All the sawmills had ceased operating by the 1960s. Four still preserve their machinery in buildings put to different uses. This helps distinguish the historical records chronologically: the permits and the map depiction tell of earlier installations; the surviving machinery is a trace of the technology, but not of ongoing sawmill operations.
The Circuit du Jéal as a hiking route
The Circuit du Jéal is an easy circular route covering 7.5 kilometres, with 140 metres of elevation gain. Its stated duration is two hours. The distance, elevation gain and time provide different points of reference for planning: you can take both the total distance and the elevation change into account, rather than looking only at the number of kilometres.
Along a 2.5-kilometre section, the circular route follows the forest road of the Basse du Jeal. This passage is part of the 7.5-kilometre loop, not its total length. One of the area’s distinctive landscape features is Roche Belles Jambes: it consists of fine pink sandstone and has caves as well as a rocky ridge or pillar.
The Grande Cheminée is also on the Circuit du Jéal. It is a square-cut remnant of a former factory, adding a distinct industrial feature alongside the rock formation. The route offers views of the village church tower and the valley towards Saint-Dié. The combination of rock, factory remains and valley views gives the route a variety of highlights, while keeping its stated duration in perspective.
Accommodation and food
One specifically named place to stay in the village is Chambres d'Hôtes La Maison de Marie, at 430 Rue de la Mairie in Les Rouges-Eaux. You can check availability in advance for your travel dates.
The Circuit du Jéal circular hiking trail is located near Auberge de la Cholotte in Les Rouges-Eaux. The auberge serves authentic, creative and generous cuisine, as well as vegan cuisine. Menus and services may change; if a particular dish is important to your plans, ask in advance about the current selection.
Discover more destinations: Mirecourt, Mazirot, Xonrupt-Longemer, Damblain, Sercœur, Champ-Le-Duc, Frebécourt, Vittel.
For the broader travel guide: Vosges.
