Le Violu municipal campsite is in Gemaingoutte, a small Vosges village on the N59 road, at the foot of the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines pass, in a green setting. The river runs alongside the site, the forest is about 1 km away and the first hills about 2 km; the nearest cinema and nightclub are 5 km away.
The site covers one hectare, with partial shade, and has a little under fifty pitches, about thirty with electricity and ten reserved for motorhomes. It also offers two chalets to rent and a Euro-Relais type service area. Pets are accepted on pitches and in the rental accommodation, and groups are welcome.
The pitches are open from 1 April to 31 October. The two chalets and the motorhome service area, however, operate from 1 January to 31 December: it is therefore the rental accommodation and the service area that make a winter stay possible here, as the bare pitches are closed from November to March. A chalet is rented by the week, with a posted minimum of around €200.
Off-season, the offer suits walkers, motorhomers passing through and those who enjoy quiet stays in the mountains.
Hikes around the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines pass and on the GR 531, the former border route from 1871 to 1918.
The campsite has a washroom block with showers and toilets, a washing machine and a drinking water point. The pitches can be connected to electricity, and street lighting makes getting around easier in the evening. Barbecues are allowed and a television is among the facilities.
The Euro-Relais service area allows grey and black water to be emptied and water tanks to be filled: it stays accessible all year, making it a handy stop for motorhomes in winter. Ten places in the campsite are reserved for these vehicles.
Families will find a children’s playground on site. Payment by bank cheque and holiday vouchers (chèques vacances) is accepted. According to the listings consulted, reception is in French only, and contact is by phone on 03 29 57 70 70.
There is no swimming pool, no restaurant and no water facility on site. For meals and shopping, you have to go to the neighbouring villages. Off-season, only the chalets and the service area are concerned.
Fishing is possible on site, as the river runs through the campsite, and the nearby forest invites walks. Around the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines pass, several hiking routes are listed: a loop links the pass to the Chaume de Lusse through the Vosges forests, with viewpoints over the Meurthe and Val d’Argent valleys, and another route climbs to the Tête du Violu via the Carrefour des Biches.
The GR 531 trail follows the former border of 1871 to 1918 between Alsace and Lorraine, with its boundary stones engraved D for Deutschland and F for France. Along the way you also come across remains from the First World War, such as fortifications, as well as two graves, one of which commemorates two soldiers killed in 1940. The Club vosgien of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines publishes recommended walks.
Children have the campsite playground. No organised entertainment is reported on site. For evening leisure, the nearest cinema is 5 km away.
Off-season, hikes around the pass remain the main reason to stay, depending on snow cover and mountain conditions.
Chalets and service area open from 1 January to 31 December; pitches from 1 April to 31 October.
📍 Route Nationale 59 Le Pré Battant, 88520 Gemaingoutte
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