To the East, the mountains dominate, at the heart of the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Reserve. The Palaeozoic mountain range, 180 km long, has rounded shapes caused by glaciations during the Quaternary period.
The landscapes feature many valleys, dotted with lakes and largely covered by forests of fir trees. A paradise for skiers in winter and hikers in summer, whether they go up to the arid open lands where the chamois caper, or not.
In this area 7 mountain resorts work in collaboration in order to promote the marketing image of a dynamic and innovative mountain area.
This group of resorts is identified by the brand name of Montagne Hautes Vosges and operates as the SIVU (Syndicat Intercommunal à Vocation Unique) Tourisme Hautes Vosges (Inter-resort Syndicate dealing Uniquely with Hautes Vosges Tourism Activity).

Over to the West, the plain

At the foot of the Monts Faucilles, about 500m above sea level, there is an area which is of great significance for thermal spa resorts (with no less than four of them operating) and the art of making stringed instruments.
On the watershed, there is an area where the landscapes feature small hills, on a sandstone plateau where fir trees give way to oaks and beeches, and where the Canal de l'Est, or more exactly the "Canal des Vosges" (Vosges Canal), built with locks taking craft up to 38m50 long by 5m beam, and 70km long, peacefully links together the North and the South of the department.