Plantières-Queuleu circular loop

This walk starts from the forecourt of the Pompidou Centre in Metz. There are several car parks available in the vicinity, but you can also easily reach the starting point from Metz railway station, as there is a direct pedestrian access route there.

(S/E) Walk past the museum entrance towards the Muse shopping centre. Take Avenue François Mitterrand on the left, go under the bridge and head for Parc Jean-Marie Pelt.

(1) Leave the Arènes de Metz sports centre on your left and take the footpath that branches off to the right, running alongside a cycle park. Head towards the hill topped with a golden spire-shaped sculpture. Make your way to this Franco-Japanese monument known as ‘Tremblement de Ciel’ and head back down via the step-free footpath.

(2) After the wetland, take the dirt track leading towards the Seille. Turn right and walk alongside the sports area, passing the basketball court on the right until you reach Rue Lothaire. Cross the road carefully and take the bridge on the left until you reach a junction.

(3) Cross Rue Georges Ducrocq, turn right to follow this road whilst staying on the pavement, then take Rue des Prés on your left. Continue along Rue de Tivoli and cross Square Grandmaison, veering to the left. You’ll come out onto Rue des Déportés; follow it uphill until you reach Collège Philippe de Vigneulles and pass the car park.

(4) Continue along Rue des Déportés, which becomes Rue du Fort Queuleu, staying on the left-hand pavement.
If you’d like to add a bit of variety to your walk, you can explore Fort Queuleu, which is accessible via Allée Jean Burger, which branches off to the right about a hundred metres past the school car park.

To continue the Plantières circular route, stay on Rue du Fort Queuleu, pass the prison on your right and head towards a large roundabout near the Moselle Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Cross the pedestrian crossing once, go round the roundabout on the left, then cross the two lanes of Boulevard Solidarité at the pedestrian crossing to reach the start of a footpath.

(5) Follow this path as it winds its way alongside Boulevard Solidarité, cross Rue Marconi with care and head towards the shores of Lac Symphonie. Take the path that runs alongside the lake, turning right. Keep the lake on your left until you reach a fitness area.

(6) Turn left to continue round the lake, following the^GR®5, marked in white and red. Pass Place Édouard Branly and carry on to the Campanile hotel. Then cross Boulevard Solidarité and then Boulevard de la Défense.

(7) Turn left, then turn right about fifty metres further on to join the Coulée Verte, which heads north. Continue to follow the^GR®5until you reach Rue de Belletanche.

(8) Move over to the left to cross at the pedestrian crossing and rejoin the^GR®5on the opposite side. Carry on until you reach Rue Claude Bernard.

(9) Cross Rue Louis Ganne and continue to the left, on the pavement, keeping Route de Borny on your right for about 900 metres.

(10) Carry on to the left until you reach the next pedestrian crossing, which leads off to the right, and join Rue du Pont Rouge. Cross the road and stay on the^GR®5until you reach the “Seille” tram stop.

(11) Opposite, take the path that runs alongside Avenue de l’Amphithéâtre and continue to the Pompidou Centre (S/E).

No special equipment required. Please remember to obey the traffic lights at pedestrian crossings.