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The V50 cycle route (Luxembourg - Lyon) crosses the Messine conurbation, running alongside the Moselle from La Maxe to Augny. Like the author, who set off from Lorry-lès-Metz, it is easy to join the route and follow it to Blénod-lès-Pont-à-Mousson, between ponds and wetlands, riding mostly on dedicated cycle paths. Then you cross "Little Lorraine Switzerland" on quiet roads to rejoin the Moselle at Liverdun, nestled in one of its beautiful meanders. Following the river along the V533 greenway, you soon come into view of Toul Cathedral, the first stop on the journey.

This stage follows the southern part of the Eurovélo 19 "La Meuse à vélo" route (1,050 km from Langres to Rotterdam). From Neufchâteau, we follow the meandering Mouzon, a tributary of the Meuse. We then leave it behind, taking less travelled but more direct roads that avoid the meanders of the Meuse. We rejoin the EV19 just before the "Source de la Meuse" site, on the Langres plateau crossed by three watersheds. With the plateau reaching a height of 450 m, the gradients are not significant, but on arrival, you will need to make a little effort to climb the promontory on which the Citadel of Langres is perched. Your reward: a splendid view at dusk!

This route, initially designed to connect to the Culmont-Chalindrey railway junction, has been extended to Dijon due to the cancellation of the train service! It crosses the mustard fields of the Côte-d'Or and the former sand pits of La Tille, which have been converted into ponds that are more popular with fishermen than tourists.