From the Metz conurbation (Lorry-lès-Metz) to Moirey (Ferme du Vallon)

Start from the Place de l’Atre.

(S) From Lorry-lès-Metz, head to the village of Amanvillers via the M51.

(1) After the post office and 200 metres before the village centre (school, town hall, church), turn right onto Rue Derrière les Jardins and leave the housing estate via the track that continues from it.

(2) At the fork in the road, continue left along the track (former railway line). Cross the D135 near Habonville and continue on to Batilly.

(3) Cross the railway tracks, take Avenue des Tilleuls for 300 m, then turn left and follow Impasse de la Barrière, then Rue de l’Église.

(4) At the end, turn left and head for the village exit via Route de Verdun.

(5) Take the path on the right, then, just after crossing the D13, head back in the opposite direction along Chemin du Bois des Haies until you reach a road.

(6) Turn right onto Route de Fleury and, in front of the farm, continue along the path on the left which goes downhill and crosses the Jouaville stream.

(7) At the road, turn right and cross Giraumont via Rue de Metz. Take the cycle path to the left of the road, then cross the D152 and follow the path leading to the château.

(8) Open the gate to leave the château with your bikes, walk back to close it, go round the building and cross the moat. Join the road and turn right to reach Hatrize.

(9) After the old mill, cross the River Orne via Rue de Lorraine, then turn immediately right onto Rue de l’Église, followed by Rue des Jardins.

(10) Cross the railway line, continue straight ahead and turn left onto Chemin de la Croix de Bois.

(11) Cross the D613, then the bridge over the A4 motorway, head into the forest and walk a few metres until you reach a fork in the path.

(12) Turn left into the Bois d’Hatrize onto a path which becomes Rue des Terres Noires between the fields.

(13) At the road, turn right and, 50 metres further on, turn left onto the path that leads to the railway line. Walk alongside it on the right, then cross it and continue along the path that crosses the Grijolot and then approaches the motorway.

(14) At the junction, turn right and head back towards the Grijolot. Walk along its left bank before heading up the edge of a field until you reach a road.

(15) Turn left towards Thumeréville and, at the next junction, turn right to walk along one bank and then the other of the Grijolot until you reach a cross-path.

(16) Turn left, then, 200 metres further on, turn right towards the sewage treatment works and head for Mouaville.

(17) Turn right, then left, and follow the D14. At the next junction, turn right, then left, and continue along the D14.

(18) Pass through Gondrecourt to reach Affléville.

(19) After the water tower, carry on straight ahead along the track to Amermont. At the junction, leave the tarmac and go straight ahead; then, at the road, turn right and carry on straight on to the Bouligny Town Hall.

(20) In Bouligny, cross the railway line and head towards Rue de la Libération. Turn left and cross the old mining town via the D106. Just after the bridge over the railway tracks, ignore the^first road on the right and take the^second road on the right that follows.

(21) Turn right onto Rue Victor Aubry and continue along the path which leads out at the bend. Pass under the high-voltage power lines and reach the village of Gouraincourt.

(22) Turn left past the town hall and carry on along the track which opens out in the bend. Cross the D618 and continue on to Senon.

(23) In Senon, cross the Grande Rue and take Rue de la Fontaine opposite. Reach the pond via the first path on the left.

(24) Returning from the Observatory via the same path, turn left, then right 150 m further on onto the Tranchée du Moulin.

(25) At the three-way junction, veer left onto a narrower path through the woods. After 1,500 metres, this path leads onto a track suitable for vehicles. Continue to the left, then left again after 750 metres to reach Camp Marguerre.

(26) Set off again from Camp Marguerre, going round the small pond, then, at the road, turn right, pass in front of Ville-Forêt and arrive at a junction.

(27) Turn right (D105) then left into the Tranchée de la Gélinerie.

(28) At the road, continue left onto the D196 as far as the village of Azannes.

(29) At the bridge, at the entrance to the village, take Rue du Gué on the left, then, at the end of the street, first turn right then left to pass in front of the Town Hall. Continue along Rue Haute, then turn left onto Rue de Toquin, which becomes a track, until you reach a crossroads at the edge of the forest and at the far end of a field.

(30) Carry on left along the straight Chemin de Saint-André and, 700 m after the bend, take the path on the right to reach the Driant command post.

(31) Set off again from the Driant command post, turning right onto the D125. Pass through Flabas and head for the campsite, which is just past Moirey Town Hall and the left-hand bend (E).

(1) From the south of the Messine conurbation, you can join the route here via Châtel Saint-Germain and the Montvaux Valley

(8) to (13) An alternative route (of similar distance) is via Moncel Castle and its grounds, then Jarny, Conflans station and the D15.

(24) Picnic table and bench.

(30) A shortcut to the campsite is possible via the path branching off to the right, then through Ville-devant-Chaumont.

(E) The Vallon equestrian farm has 6 camping pitches and guest rooms.

(8) The château’s gardens were open to visitors for many years. This is no longer the case, except on the occasion of a few events throughout the year.

(20) On the square near Bouligny town hall, a sign explains the industrial history of the small town. You then pass through the old mining settlements.

(24) We’ve chosen a spot for our picnic in the heart of a nature reserve.

(26) The Camp Marguerre site is freely accessible. Guided tours, organised as interactive games, are also arranged there bythe Spincourt Tourist Office.

(29) The village of Azannes-et-Soumazannes is known for its ‘old trades’ festival, an open-air museum open for a few days a year in May and July.

(31) The Bois des Caures was the site of a major battle during which Colonel Driant was killed in 1916. Several monuments can be seen at this site.