Wonderful lake landscapes, peaceful spots, beautiful mountains, gorgeous waterfalls and hiking trails is what you will find in Gérardmer! This small town, known as the Pearl of the Vosges for its beauty, is located in the Vosges in the Grand Est – Lorraine region in France. It is absolutely the place to be for a relaxing weekend; and also for hiking and skiing!
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How to get to Gérardmer?
1. By car: From Nancy (108 Km), from Strasbourg (110 Km), from Colmar (52 Km), from Paris (440 Km)
2. By bus (i.e. Fluo Grand Est): From Epinal, take the Bus 29 (Duration: 47 mins), from Remiremont, take the Bus 1B (Duration: 35 mins), and from Saint Dié des Vosges, take the Bus 17 (Duration: 37 mins)
From where you are, you can reach the above mentioned bus stations by train. For the connection, you only need 5 minutes since the bus stations are located next to the train stations.
There are many hotels and apartments in Gérardmer. You can stay in the city center or in the mountains so you can have a view on the lake! However, note that there is no public transportation in Gérardmer so if you don’t have a car it is better to stay in the city center.
The price for a double room in a hotel varies from 50 to 100+ euros. We stayed at L’Echo du Lac for 68 euros per night (total for 2 people) including breakfast. The hotel was really nice, clean, calm, and had a good breakfast.
Apartments also vary between 40 and 100+ euros. Choosing the best option in terms of quality-price depends on how many people you are traveling with and with whom you will share the price of the booking. It also depends on the type of your stay. Many hotels in Gérardmer have a spa, Turkish bath, sauna, swimming pool etc. whereas as you may know apartments don’t offer these options.
What to do in Gérardmer?
1. Have a walk by the lake, you can go all around the lake and enjoy many different landscapes
2. Hike to “ Observatoire de la Merelle” for a panoramic view of the lake
3. Hike to “Cascade de la Merelle”, a very known waterfall in Gérardmer
4. Hike to « Le saut de la Bourrique »
During winter, Gérardmer is also known for its Ski stations: Gérardmer has 21 ski slopes with 40 km of slopes, the longest ski slope in the Vosges (2900 M), 19 ski lifts, and Express ski lift with 6 places. You can also enjoy night skiing with lighted slopes and free access to the play and sledging areas!
During summer, it is possible to do water sports and to swim in the lake.
What to eat in Gérardmer?
1. Have a delicious kebab at O’malo, a great fast food restaurant in the city center
2. Try the French cuisine at L’Echo du Lac
3. Try the specialties of the Vosges: Val d’Ajol specialties, terrine, Lorraine quiche, Lorraine pâté, sauerkraut, and brimbelle tart
Festivals and events in Gérardmer
1. Local market each Thursday and Saturday!
2. Gérardmer International Fantastic Film Festival: an international festival of science-fiction and horror films held each year at the end of January-February since 1994.
3. Fireworks show by the lake on July 14 and August 14
4. Triathlon Gérardmer: held every year on the first weekend of September
5. The feast of daffodils: held in April each two years, this spring event attracts thousands of people since 1935! You will enjoy animations of all kinds and a parade of floats!
We hope that this quick guide to visit Gérardmer has given you everything you need for an unforgettable trip to Gérardmer!
Have you visited the Vosges before? Let us know about your experience there in the comments below!
Note: We only recommend places that we enjoyed visiting with no commercial benefits.
Credits to Sara Halawi (@sara_halawi) and Nelly Peracchia (@viewsbynelly) for the amazing pictures.
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.