Ban-de-Sapt – Sainte-Catherine Church loop from Saâles

Bike touring routes & trails

Ban-de-Sapt – Sainte-Catherine Church loop from Saâles

Hard

4.5

(4)

riders

Ban-de-Sapt – Sainte-Catherine Church loop from Saâles

01:59

28.0km

460m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 14, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

1.57 km

Forest Path in Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

5.65 km

Col du Las

Mountain Pass

9.70 km

Historic village in the Vosges
Ban-de-Sapt is located on a strategic height in the Vosges and was the scene of fierce fighting during WWI, especially around the côte 627. Today it is a peaceful place with a rich culture of remembrance. The Nécropole nationale de la Fontenelle, original trenches, a panoramic table and a rare steel observation capsule from WWI make the village a unique destination for those who want to combine nature and history.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

14.4 km

Hermanpaire Pass

Highlight • Other

This mountain pass in the Vosges connects the Fave and Hure valleys and is located between the villages of Le Beulay and La Petite-Fosse. During the First World War, the pass was strategically important: the Bayerische 39. Reserve-Division controlled the passage here with bunkers and trenches, remains of which are still visible today. The area is rich in relics such as machine gun bunkers, barbed wire posts and shelters from 1916.

The pass is also popular with cyclists: the climb from Saint-Dié-des-Vosges is 10.6 km long with an average gradient of 2.9%. Along the way, you can enjoy peaceful forests, historical traces and views of the Spitzemberg and the Tête de Raves.

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Tip by

16.6 km

La Petite-Fosse

Highlight • Settlement

La Petite-Fosse – Front village with memory
This small village in the Vosges (altitude: 440–870 m) has barely 80 inhabitants, but played a prominent role during the First World War. The western front line ran right through the village, with heavy fighting around the nearby Spitzenberg. For its courageous resistance, La Petite-Fosse was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1920. Today it is a peaceful place with a view of the surrounding mountains.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

19.8 km

Sainte-Catherine Church

Highlight • Religious Site

Originally built in the 12th century, this church was rebuilt and expanded in the 18th century. The square Romanesque bell tower was raised in 1712 and topped with a striking onion-shaped dome, built by Polish carpenters at the initiative of Stanislas Leszczyński, King of Poland and Duke of Lorraine. The church was badly damaged during WWI, but was restored in the 1920s. Inside, you will find stained glass windows by Frères Ott (Strasbourg) and murals in friezes. The church has been protected as a historical monument since 1995.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

27.2 km

Col de Saâles

Mountain Pass

28.0 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types