Looking for a solid table around Val d’Ajol, in the southern part of the Vosges massif toward Ballon d’Alsace? Two verified addresses fit that search: the hotel-restaurant La Résidence, in Val d’Ajol itself, and the Auberge des Sources, a few kilometers away in Château-Lambert. Here are their details, opening hours and what they actually offer.
La Résidence, a historic hotel-restaurant in Val d’Ajol
La Résidence occupies a 19th-century manor and its outbuildings, at 5 rue des Mousses, 88340 Le Val d’Ajol. The property has 3 buildings and 48 rooms across 2 hectares of grounds planted with century-old trees, with a heated indoor pool, sauna, tennis court and walking paths.
According to information published on the venue’s website, the restaurant is open from 12:15pm to 1:30pm and from 7:15pm to 8:30pm daily, except Sunday evenings from September to June. Menus range from 39 to 68 euros, built around cuisine that highlights Vosges produce. The house carries the Logis “Cosy” label and the “L’Exception Logis Table distinguée” distinction.
Three annual closing periods are listed: December 7 to 26, March 2 to 9, and June 22 to July 6. Contact the venue at 03 29 30 68 52 to confirm the dates before booking. La Résidence also appears in the “classic dining” directory of the Remiremont Plombières Tourist Office, under the commune of Val d’Ajol.
Auberge des Sources, a welcoming table in Château-Lambert
A few kilometers from Val d’Ajol, Château-Lambert is a village on the border between the Vosges and Haute-Saône, where Léna and Adrien have run the Auberge des Sources since 2016. The full address, published on the venue’s website, is: 4 place du 19 mars 1962, village de Château-Lambert, 70440 Haut-du-Them, Château-Lambert.
The menu draws on local Vosges and Haute-Saône produce: smoked Vosges ham, Comté tart, munstiflette and bilberry tart. From March to April, the inn also serves frogs’ legs, a seasonal local specialty. The weekday set menu is listed at 16 euros. The venue works with local suppliers (a butcher, a farming cooperative, a regional bakery) and has followed a low-impact approach since 2015: wood heating, rainwater-fed toilets and waste sorting.
The inn’s website states a distance of 24 km from La Bresse and 5 km from Le Thillot, putting the address just under half an hour’s drive from the northern side of the massif via Ballon d’Alsace. Payment can be made by card, cash or holiday vouchers (“chèques-vacances”). Booking by phone, at 03 84 62 83 60, remains the preferred option according to the venue itself.
Shared local produce between Vosges and Haute-Saône
This southern part of the massif, often grouped under the name Vosges Saônoises, gets little coverage on this site, yet it rounds out the known addresses further north. The Val d’Ajol commune’s gastronomy page highlights local specialties: nettle- or bilberry-based products, quiches, potées and smoked meat, in line with what the Auberge des Sources serves.
Val d’Ajol is also known for its knife-making and industrial culinary craft, home to the De Buyer factory: the Auberge des Sources notes that its pans and pepper mills come from there, a detail that shows how closely linked the two communes remain despite the administrative border.
To compare with what’s on offer further north, head to La Bresse and its farm-inns in the area, where the marcaire meal follows the same seasonal-produce approach. The Ferme du Saichy and its farmhouse munster, or the Confiserie Bressaude for a sweet stop, round out a food-focused day if you head back toward La Bresse after this southern leg.
Planning a trip around Val d’Ajol
A few practical points before you go:
- Book by phone at both venues, especially at weekends and during school holidays.
- Check the seasonal closures of La Résidence (December, March, late June) directly with the hotel.
- Plan the route via Ballon d’Alsace if coming from the northern side of the massif: both addresses sit on the southern slope, around Val d’Ajol and Château-Lambert.
- Ask about accepted payment methods if paying with holiday vouchers, especially at the Auberge des Sources.
This area works well for a day trip or an overnight stay, between the La Résidence manor and the village feel of Château-Lambert, before heading back toward the rest of the Hautes Vosges.
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Frequently asked questions
Do you need to book to eat at restaurant La Résidence in Val d'Ajol?
Booking is recommended, especially at weekends. The restaurant serves from 12:15pm to 1:30pm and from 7:15pm to 8:30pm, except Sunday evenings from September to June. The venue also closes in early December, early March and late June: check the dates before you go, at 03 29 30 68 52.
What are the opening hours of Auberge des Sources in Château-Lambert?
The inn serves lunch and dinner, with a terrace in season. The weekday set menu is listed at 16 euros on the venue's website. Booking by phone is recommended, at 03 84 62 83 60.
How far is this southern part of the massif from La Bresse?
Auberge des Sources, in Château-Lambert, states on its website a distance of 24 km from La Bresse, and 5 km from Le Thillot. Val d'Ajol lies on the same southern slope, toward Ballon d'Alsace.