The Défilé de Straiture is a wooded gorge carved by the Petite Meurthe in the commune of Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy, between Le Valtin and Plainfaing. The site combines a natural corridor listed under Natura 2000, a restored historic sawmill and an educational sheep farm, yet it rarely appears in guides devoted to the La Bresse area. This guide brings together the official information needed to plan a trip: access, distances, contacts and what there is to discover on site.
A gorge carved by the Petite Meurthe
The official Vosges Tourisme listing describes the gorge as “the passage the Petite Meurthe carved for itself to escape the mountain.” The corridor runs for around 4 km, hemmed in between two summits over 1,000 metres in altitude. The river passes through “majestic beech and fir stands,” ravine forests home to maple and lime trees, along with natural spruce stands, peat bogs and scree slopes.
This rugged relief and variety of habitats explain the site’s Natura 2000 listing, which also includes a full biological reserve along part of the route. Access is via marked trails open to independent visitors, pets and groups. The tourist office lists no entry fee: the gorge can be walked free of charge.
To place this type of forest landscape alongside other sites in the massif, a comparison with the cascades de Tendon is useful: the same Vosges forest atmosphere, but a different profile, centred on two waterfalls rather than a continuous gorge.
The bergerie de Straiture, an educational farm within the gorge
Within the gorge, the bergerie de Straiture is home to around 150 ewes grazing across roughly thirty hectares. The farm is run by landless shepherds who maintain plots on behalf of local communes and private owners. It was granted educational-farm status in 2004 and received an eco-award from the Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges for its environmental initiatives.
Guided activities run during school holidays, Tuesday to Friday at 10am, lasting around 1h30: a tour of the farm, a sheepdog demonstration, sheep shearing and wool-working workshops (dyeing, spinning, felting). An on-site shop sells the shepherdess’s wool creations, and wool-working courses are organised regularly.
Practical information: address 683 Hervafaing, 88230 Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy, phone 03 29 50 31 54, website bergerie-straiture.fr. Booking is required, by phone or through the website.
The sentier du Sagard and the scierie du Lançoir
The Sagard walking circuit starts from the Défilé de Straiture, at 1145 route départementale 73, 88230 Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy. The tourist office rates it easy over a distance of 4 km. The route follows the ruisseau du Sotré through beech and fir stands, crosses former glacial zones and passes small wetland pockets fitted with hammocks for observation. Along the way, walkers can also spot the Straiture spruces and the scree areas close to the full biological reserve. A discovery booklet is available at the scierie du Lançoir or at the Plainfaing tourist office (03 29 50 30 18, bansurmeurthe-clefcy@wanadoo.fr).
The scierie du Lançoir, built between 1611 and 1625, is a listed historic monument, still fitted with a waterwheel driven by the torrent. Guided tours cover the life of 19th-century sawyers and how the sawmill works. Bookable eco-workshops let visitors build nesting boxes or bird feeders. The marked trail serving it operates from May to October. Contact: 03 29 50 45 54, lelancoir.wixsite.com/lelancoir. The sawmill carries the Pass Vosges and Marque Massif des Vosges en famille labels, with staff able to welcome visitors in English, German and Dutch, a coach park and on-site toilets.
Getting there from La Bresse and the surrounding area
The Défilé de Straiture can be reached from La Bresse via the mountain roads climbing towards the col de la Schlucht, before descending on the Le Valtin and Plainfaing side down to Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy. To plan the drive around mountain traffic conditions, the col de la Schlucht guide details road access and parking at this unavoidable pass.
Once there, the gorge suits a half-day outing combining a visit to the scierie du Lançoir, the sentier du Sagard and, subject to booking, an activity at the bergerie de Straiture. To round out the stay with another protected natural site in the area, the tourbière du lac de Lispach offers a comparable educational trail, also listed under Natura 2000.
At a glance
- Défilé de Straiture: Les Blanches Fontaines, 88230 Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy. 4 km gorge, free independent access, marked trails. Contact: 03 29 50 30 30.
- Bergerie de Straiture: 683 Hervafaing, 88230 Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy. Activities during school holidays, Tuesday to Friday at 10am, booking required. Tel. 03 29 50 31 54.
- Scierie du Lançoir: listed historic monument (1611-1625), guided tours, sentier du Sagard marked from May to October. Tel. 03 29 50 45 54.
- Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy tourist office: 03 29 50 30 18, bansurmeurthe-clefcy@wanadoo.fr.
Before you go, it is worth checking by phone the sawmill’s opening days and the farm’s availability, since both activities run on booking or follow a school-holiday calendar.
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Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the Défilé de Straiture?
The Défilé de Straiture lies in the commune of Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy (88230), between the villages of Le Valtin and Plainfaing. The site's official listing gives the address Les Blanches Fontaines, 88230 Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy, and contact 03 29 50 30 30.
Can the bergerie de Straiture be visited freely?
No. The bergerie de Straiture runs educational activities during school holidays, Tuesday to Friday at 10am, by booking (03 29 50 31 54 or bergerie-straiture.fr). The farm has around 150 ewes grazing across roughly thirty hectares.
How long is the sentier du Sagard?
The official walking circuit measures 4 km and is rated easy. It starts from the Défilé de Straiture, follows the ruisseau du Sotré and passes the scierie du Lançoir. Walking time is not specified by the tourist office; a discovery booklet is available at the sawmill or at the Plainfaing tourist office.