Auberge de La Haute Fourche

The food is excellent, the shower gets hot, and the location is good. For a week’s stay last September, that was enough for us. It’s a case of what you see is what you get, so don’t expect luxury, though the price reflects that. If you’re cycling, the inn may not be ideally placed near the main roads.

We came back for a second visit in August 2022, having first been here in 2017. It’s a lovely, authentic inn in a beautiful part of the Vosges, and the value for money is very good. Jacob is a great host, and the food is good. After a ride, you can get your clothes washed and dried straight away. There are plenty of cycling climbs to tackle in every direction from the inn, and we really recommend its own cycling routes. In the evening, it’s nice to unwind in the living room or play table tennis, football, or another game. Another top-notch stay.

We left a week early because the gite was so miserable, and I want to warn others against renting it at La Haute Fourche. It’s dated, badly maintained, filthy, musty, damp, and stinking. There was mold on the walls, ceiling, and window frames, at least 4 cockroaches in just under a week, stains on the mattresses, and sticky surfaces everywhere. My family, including our two small children, all had colds and sore throats. The gite is unrentable, and it’s unacceptable that the owner still rents it out. The owner cut the agreed refund in half at the last minute, 5 minutes before we left. Jacob, you reversed the decision you’d made with Marian, and talking about leniency doesn’t change that. It was very weak of you, and you still owe us 300 euros. You could apologize and admit that the house is unhealthy and unsafe. I also haven’t mentioned the screws sticking out of the playground equipment or the rotten planks around your swimming pool, where someone could easily break a leg. The only star we can give is for Marian and the surroundings. People, don’t rent a gite here. Look elsewhere.

The food is delicious and very reasonably priced, and the famous climbs are manageable from here. I stayed at the inn on a cycling trip from the Netherlands, and it’s perfect for cyclists and families. The pub is a nice spot to watch races with Jacob, the innkeeper, who gives the already beautiful place a wonderful atmosphere. I’ll be back next year with friends for a long weekend of cycling. Until then, Jacob.