Vosges, Department in Grand Est, France.
Vosges is a department in northeastern France combining wooded mountain slopes, thermal springs, and farming valleys. Its landscape shifts from gentle vineyards in the south to rocky peaks in the north, stretching across several hundred kilometers.
This administrative division emerged in 1790 from older provinces that had been disputed for centuries. The border location meant many towns changed between French and German control several times before the current boundaries were settled.
The name comes from the mountain range that shapes the area and now draws hikers and winter sports enthusiasts year-round. Many villages preserve traditional architecture with steep roofs and wooden balconies built to withstand heavy snowfall.
Épinal serves as the main administrative center with broad connections to smaller towns in the mountains and valleys. The best months for mountain trips are May through October, while thermal springs remain accessible throughout the year.
About half of the area consists of continuous forest cover, among the densest in all of France. These woods provide habitat for lynx and capercaillie, two species that have become rare elsewhere.
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