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5h
average
Length of the route : 20.5 km Town : Saint-Mihiel Trail marked by La Grolle Sammielloise: lagrollesammielloise55@laposte.net Very beautiful hike starting from the city center. Most of the time shaded course over a distance of 20.5 km for a vertical drop of 310m. After passing through the Old Town in front of a few buildings classified (or registered) historic monuments or the Collegiate Church of St Etienne housing a famous sepulcher of Ligier Richier or an old washhouse, the hike takes you on a pleasant rural route largely shaded. It does not present any particular difficulties except for a few steep slopes. It will lead you to the discovery of sources, fountains, menhir, viewpoints and chapel. On the way out, on the highest point of this hike, you will pass in front of the megalith (menhir) of the Damechonne or even Dame Schone (Neolithic period 1800 BC) whose origin of the Germanic name, Dame Schone or more simply schoene, which translates to Beautiful Lady, is unknown. A priori very old, is it to be compared with the fact that the Duchies of Lorraine and Bar were States belonging to the Holy Roman Empire? German was therefore a language naturally used there. The term beautiful lady is to be compared to the beliefs of fairies. Fairies are indeed very common in Lorraine and followed on from the “Fata”, Celtic goddesses. German soldiers carved inscriptions and iron crosses there during the Great War. We can read on the menhir: “Mit Gott für Vaterland 1914-1915” underlined with two palms. You will cross the village of Varvinay, part of the municipality of Valbois, residence of a Meusien sculptor at the entrance to the village. The old washhouse in the village is worth a stop. On the way back, you will pass near the Chapel of the Virgin of the Meadows, a former place of pilgrimage and whose water from its source is said to cure eye diseases. Good hike |
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