The Donon in Grandfontaine

The Donon: a sacred site

As the high point of the Basses-Vosges, the Donon rises to an altitude of 1009 m. Chiefly famous for the reconstructed Roman temple on its peak, created at the initiative of Napoleon III, the Donon includes many remains from the region's mystical past. The mountain quickly became seen as sacred, making it a leading religious site, and giving rise to many local legends. The Celts were the first to build a temple to the Stag God here, followed by the Gallo-Romans who were also captivated by this haunting setting and who built a temple here which was probably dedicated to the god Mercury. Iron mining was also carried out here, and in 1914 the area was the scene of bloody combat resulting in the deaths of more than 200 people on the French and German sides.

The many faces of Mother Nature

In a landscape dotted with rocks and fir trees, the Donon is the source of a number of feeder streams for the Rhine. Up at the peak, which features a wealth of botanical and archaeological information, visitors can enjoy an outstanding view over the Saar and the Bruche Valley. No surprise then that the Donon is popular with nature lovers who head here to enjoy a number of open-air activities including hiking, cycle tourism, grass sledding, astronomy, skiing or snowshoeing.