THE ORBEY VALLEY
	In this quiet valley, the "Welche" is spoken, a dialect close to the Vosges dialect. The pleasant villages, the natural surroundings, the prairies and the Alsatian Vosges Mountains were surely created solely for decorating the great trails... Well-known for curing with its quietness and fresh air, TROIS EPIS possesses a priveleged location 658m (1900ft). The name of this village, literally "three blades of grain", originates from a particular legend...which has resulted in perpetual adoration of the Holy Sacrament in the local 15th century church. Before arriving in ORBEY, don't miss LABAROCHE where you can have an awesome view of the valley or enjoy a nice walk in the village. In ORBEY, Madame Suzanne Laurent awaits you at the Orbey Valley Museum: a wonderful collection of Orbey's arts, culture and history through the Pairis Abbey's history (destroyed during the Revolution). After Orbey, our next stop: the LINGE MEMORIAL. A World War I historical battle field contains well-preserved German defenses and ruins of French trenches. Not far from MOUNT LINGE in WETTSTEIN, 2146 souls of French soldiers rest in peace in the Chasseurs (Hunters) Military Cemetery. From the Wettstein Pass, you can see the summit of the Linge, just like the French hunters from 1914 to 1918. Make a little detour before heading on to Lapoutroie. The mountain-side town of FRELAND has a wealth of museums: the WELCH HOUSE (presenting the arts and culture of this Welch country), the FORGE MUSEUM and the MUSEUM OF RELIGIOUS ARTS. THE LAKES The charm of the Orbey Valley comes from the incredible natural surroundings: Le Bonhomme and Le Bonhomme Pass, White Lake, Black Lake, Devin Pond, Schlucht Pass, Green Lake, Forlet Lake (a.k.a. Trout Lake)... And the best part of all, these natural wonders are accessible by various trails marked by the Club Vosgien. For more information on Petite Pierre and these sights, click here. Adaptation and Translation: Sarah BROSSART-TARDIVON

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