The best cycling routes around Raves

yes up there you have a good view

Nestled in a verdant valley, Saint-Dié-des-Vosges is a charming Vosges town with a rich historical and cultural heritage. Blending conviviality, culture, history, and nature, it appeals to both heritage enthusiasts and lovers of wide-open spaces.

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.

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.

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.

Since the 13th century, a hospice was maintained there by the church. and welcomed pilgrims, travelers and the city's sick. At the request of the inhabitants of this suburb, a church was built there, while a new, more spacious hospital was erected on the right bank of the Meurthe. The church was dedicated to Saint-Martin and was consecrated in 1728. On July 14, 1895, during the National Day fireworks display, the church was set on fire by a rocket which hit the roof covered with fir twigs and burned to the ground. According to the plans of the Parisian architect Heubès, a new Vosges sandstone church was built in the "floral Romanesque" style and consecrated on August 13, 1902.

As early as the 7th century, Deodatus (French Dieudonné), who was revered by the people as a saint, is said to have founded a monastery here, from which a community of canons then developed in the 10th century. At that time the church wore the patron saint of St. Mauritius. The diocese of Saint-Dié was only established in 1777 by Pope Pius VI. († 1799) built. The church building, which was built in different architectural styles, was blown up by the Germans in 1944, destroying the entire nave and the choir area along with their vaults. The reconstruction lasted until 1974; in this year the church was newly consecrated. Most of the stained glass windows were made and inserted in the 1980s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Saint-Di%C3%A9

A small, enchanting artificial waterfall. It's accompanied by a gazebo, a perfect place to take a break during a hike. Below, there's an old fish farm. The whole area dates back to the early 20th century, a time when there was a desire to encourage outdoor activities in nature. However, the rock is believed to be a Celtic remnant, perhaps even related to Druidic practices.