Top 6 Best Activities to Do in the Vosges

Welcome to the Vosges, a vast natural area between large green forests, hills and valleys, a land of adventure, history and gastronomy! The Vosges abound with a multitude of activities that will satisfy all your expectations: relaxation in thermal towns renowned for their benefits, cultural and historical visits, tastings of local products, or even outdoor sports in summer and winter, in preserved landscapes. Come find your happiness for a weekend or during your vacation in the Vosges, and we also hear that it's a romantic land perfect for couples or to find your soulmate...

1. Gérardmer and its lake

• Category: Discovery / Sports
• Price: €
• Description: Ideal for recharging and family walks on foot, by boat or by bike, Lake Gérardmer offers you a magnificent view of the Vosges massif. You can experiment with all kinds of water sports: canoe, sailing, rowing, pedal boat, fishing and of course cool off with your best dives! You can also wander through the bucolic streets of the village which offers a good choice of small restaurants, and hotels with spas to end this visit beautifully.

2. The thermal resorts of the Vosges

• Category: Relaxation / Discovery
• Price: €€ / €€€
• Description: Sometimes in the heart of mountains and forests, the thermal resorts of the Vosges offer you a privileged setting for an exceptional wellness moment. A renowned resort frequented by distinguished guests (ranging from Napoleon III, Empress Joséphine, or even Voltaire!), Plombières-les-Bains will satisfy your desire for relaxation. In neo-Byzantine style, the thermal resort also known as the "capital of slimness" Contrexéville welcomes you in a romantic setting; while in Vittel, you can enjoy the large park and its golf course after your treatment.

3. Épinal, picturesque village

• Category: Gastronomic / Cultural / Discovery
• Price: €
• Description: Come enjoy a break from your daily routine by visiting the beautiful village of Épinal. Its varied architecture will take you through different eras and cultural influences, being located near the German, Swiss, Luxembourg and Belgian borders. The remains of its medieval castle are classified as Historical Monuments and will offer you (in addition to the authentic interior) a beautiful visit to its elevated park. The city also has exceptional cultural visits, such as its planetarium or the Cité de l'Image, which has an Imagerie open for visits and the Museum of the Image, which holds the most important European collection of popular images!

Also take advantage of your visit to the Vosges to awaken your senses and curiosity in Colmar at the Gourmet Chocolate Museum Choco-Story:

4. The Fraispertuis City amusement park

• Category: Unusual / Thrills / Discovery
• Price: €€
• Description: This amusement park for all ages is located in Jeanménil and welcomes you from April to September. With more than 35 attractions, multiple restaurants and gift shops, the thrills and laughter of a day at the park make it an unforgettable memory! From the giant Golden Driller to the 60s Carousel, you're in for surprises. This great variety of attractions makes it a joy for the whole family and all types of adventurers!

5. The Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park

• Category: Nature / Sports
• Price: €
• Description: This natural area enjoys a great diversity of landscapes, offering a range of outdoor activities that will satisfy your thirst for adventure! Extending over Alsace, Franche-Comté and Lorraine, this park offers you the possibility to practice snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter on the park's marked trails, and in summer hiking, cycling, or even horseback riding. You can admire incredible fauna and flora unique to France, such as lynx or peregrine falcons, and a variety of medicinal or emblematic flowers such as arnica. Fellow hikers, the Vosges will offer you exceptional panoramas like on the Grand Ballon mountain rising to 1424 meters. The famous Route des Crêtes, very popular with motorcyclists, also allows you to reach its summit, during a climb with many magnificent viewpoints over the valley.

6. Getaways for lovers

• Category: Unusual / Relaxation / Gastronomic
• Price: €€ / €€€
• Description: You can enjoy a wide range of unusual and romantic accommodation choices throughout the territory: sleep in an old French plane, a western stay in a tipi, a glass pyramid to observe the stars or even a treehouse in the middle of forest birds, there's something for everyone. In this rustic or chic setting, escape during a gastronomic getaway to awaken your senses: Vosges gastronomy is renowned for its delicious local specialties. Blueberry tarts, Vosges salads, tofailles, Lorraine pâté... So many dishes to discover with your soulmate, and of course accompanied by the famous wines of Alsace!

Discover the wonders of Alsace with these activity suggestions around Colmar!