Stage 7Tomblaine / La Planche des Belles Filles

La Planche des Belles Filles

Located in the Regional Nature Park of Ballons des Vosges, La Planche des Belles Filles  is a family resort which is the only snow park in the Haute-Sâone. Recently improved to ensure its long-term development, the stadium is equipped with 5 ski slopes, 50 kilometres of cross-country skiing, a snowshoeing circuit, a track roll'herbe and hiking and equestrian trails. According to legend, in 1636, the young and beautiful girls of the village sought refuge in the mountains, near a pond, to escape the Swedish soldiers who had come to plunder the village. When discovered, they threw themselves into the black waters. The head of the assailants, who had fallen for the charms of one of the girls, dived in to save her but up brought up only a lifeless body. He took a plank of wood and with his dagger engraved an epitaph in honour of those unfortunate girls, and thus gave the name to the site of La Planche des Belles Filles.  Below, a few kilometres in the old working valley, the town of Plancher-les-Mines was named after the lead, iron and silver mines for which it was once renowned.