Destination Chassepierre: return journey by bike and train

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To reach the village of Chassepierre, a little paradise on the banks of the Semois, here is a three-day itinerary. By using the train for part of the journey, both there and back, you can enjoy paths free from motor traffic and even visit several remarkable places in Belgium and France.

Details

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  • Touring/Gravel
    Activity: Touring/Gravel
  • ↔
    Distance: 168.45 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 3 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 6,309 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 6,309 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,414 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 531 ft

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S

    From the north of the Metz conurbation (Lorry-lès-Metz) to Hagondange station

    ↔11.10 mi ↗394 ft ↘669 ft
    On the first day, you’ll need to cycle to the nearest or most suitable station to catch the train to Bettembourg. In this guide, we’ve chosen Hagondange station for the reasons explained in the practical information section. It’s easy to adapt this section to suit your starting point, choosing another station on the line between Nancy and Luxembourg.
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  2. 2

    Bettembourg – Vieille Hage Farm

    ↔46.43 mi ↗1,932 ft ↘1,732 ft
    From the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, this route heads to Arlon, the capital of the Belgian province of Luxembourg, before passing through the villages of northern Gaume. Away from the main roads, it follows cycle paths, country lanes and tracks reserved for farm machinery, as well as a few rideable footpaths. There are several suggested stops to choose from, so you’ll need to pick a few to complete the stage in a single day!
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  3. 3

    Ferme de la Vieille Hage – Chassepierre

    ↔15.64 mi ↗469 ft ↘653 ft
    This second stage can be covered in a morning, leaving you free to enjoy an afternoon swimming in the Semois and/or a walk around its meander. If you’ve come to attend the street arts festival, you’ll have time to pitch your tent and grab a bite to eat before the first show on Saturday afternoon.
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  4. 4

    Chassepierre – Longuyon

    ↔36.76 mi ↗2,024 ft ↘2,254 ft
    For a return trip to Metz in a single day, this route takes you to Longuyon station. Provided you set off early enough, you’ll be able to visit Orval Abbey, then the citadel of Montmédy, stop for lunch by the Étang de Charency-Vezin and reach Longuyon by mid-afternoon.
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  5. E

    From Conflans-Jarny (station) to the Metz conurbation (Lorry-lès-Metz)

    ↔17.20 mi ↗1,099 ft ↘915 ft
    The second part of the stage from Conflans-Jarny station is a route along small country roads back to Metz. The grounds of Moncel Castle near Jarny are an ideal spot for a break. From the Montvaux Valley, which we pass through, it is easy to reach the southern part of the Metz conurbation.
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Notes

This route was tried out in 2024 to get us to the50th edition of the Chassepierre Street Arts Festival, which takes place over the weekend following 15 August.

(S) We chose to travel to Hagondange station rather than Woippy station – even though the latter is closer to Lorry-lès-Metz – for our TER departure on Friday. As with journeys from Metz, TER services to Bettembourg run more frequently from there. Some trains run directly from Nancy (journey time: 1 hour 20 minutes), Pont-à-Mousson or Pagny-sur-Moselle.

In Tintigny, the destination of thefirst stage, a farm-based campsite has six pitches: it’s advisable to book in advance, especially if you’re a group.

In Chassepierre, the following day, the ‘Les Cabrettes’ campsite is open from1 April to 30 October. During the festival, part of the meadow by the banks of the Semois is set aside to accommodate festival-goers (camping subject to a fee).

(E) For the return journey on Monday, we took thesecond and final train from Longuyon at around 3 pm and got off, after a 30-minute journey, at the stop closest to Lorry-lès-Metz: Conflans-Jarny. Pont-à-Mousson and Nancy (journey time: 1 hour 20 minutes) are possible stops on this line.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

Other walks in the area

Touring/Gravel From the Messine conurbation to Toul station

Visorando Member
↔49.83 mi ↗+676 ft ↘-758 ft ◔8 hrs ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Lorry-lès-Metz (Moselle)
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.

Touring/Gravel From the north of the Metz conurbation (Lorry-lès-Metz) to Hagondange station

Visorando Member
↔11.10 mi ↗+394 ft ↘-669 ft ◔1.5 hrs ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Lorry-lès-Metz (Moselle)
On the first day, you’ll need to cycle to the nearest or most suitable station to catch the train to Bettembourg. In this guide, we’ve chosen Hagondange station for the reasons explained in the practical information section. It’s easy to adapt this section to suit your starting point, choosing another station on the line between Nancy and Luxembourg.

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

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↔53.94 mi ↗+1,706 ft ↘-1,745 ft ◔8 hrs ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Lorry-lès-Metz (Moselle)
This first stage of the route takes us into the Meuse department via footpaths, tracks reserved for farm machinery or small country lanes. The detour into Meurthe-et-Moselle offers the chance to visit several castles. There are several spots along the route ideal for a picnic, including the Étang d’Amel within a nature reserve, provided you set off early to reach it before lunchtime.

Touring/Gravel Lorraine, Gaume and Guttland Route (Metz – Chassepierre – Luxembourg)

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↔248.55 mi ↗+8,120 ft ↘-8,127 ft ◔5 days ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Lorry-lès-Metz (Moselle)
Two borders, three countries, several castles, a river and winding streams punctuate this short cycling trip. The route often follows valleys, so the elevation gain is not very significant. It almost always runs along dedicated routes, including smooth cycle paths, footpaths or shared roads with very little motor traffic. If all the cultural attractions appeal to you, you’ll need to allow an extra day or two, which is possible by camping, for example, in Inor (Meuse) and Hesperange (Luxembourg).

Touring/Gravel Metz–Chassepierre circular cycle tour (+ return train journey from Pétange)

Visorando Member
↔123.85 mi ↗+5,968 ft ↘-5,820 ft ◔3 days ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Lorry-lès-Metz (Moselle)
The village of Chassepierre is a little paradise on the banks of the Semois, very close to the French and Luxembourg borders, just 120 km from Metz.Our route takes 3 or 4 days: one and a half days to reach Chassepierre, half a day or one and a half days there to enjoy the surroundings, and one day for the return journey, part of which is by train. It is also possible, as the author of this route did, to attend the performances at the street arts festival, which takes place in the afternoons and evenings on the Saturday and Sunday following 15 August. The first long stage (over 90 km) takes us beyond the Chiers and the Ton via a very direct route through France. The following morning, it’s just a 30 km cycle, plus an optional visit to Orval Abbey. The return journey to Metz follows the Semois upstream before heading into Luxembourg to catch the train.

Touring/Gravel From Lorry-lès-Metz to the Vieille Hage farm (Tintigny – Belgium)

Visorando Member
↔58.52 mi ↗+3,251 ft ↘-2,963 ft ◔8 hrs ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Lorry-lès-Metz (Moselle)
For this first stage, the route seems very direct but stays well away from the main roads. It follows country lanes, tracks reserved for farm machinery, forest paths and cycle paths!

Touring/Gravel Corny – Metz by bike

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Corny - Metz à vélo
↔16.73 mi ↗+23 ft ↘-23 ft ◔3 hrs ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Corny-sur-Moselle (Moselle)
This lovely cycle ride (suitable for all types of bikes, except after a spell of rain) takes you round the southern suburbs of Metz and allows you to discover the area from a very different perspective to the usual road routes.

Touring/Gravel From Conflans-Jarny (station) to the Metz conurbation (Lorry-lès-Metz)

Visorando Member
↔17.20 mi ↗+1,099 ft ↘-915 ft ◔2 hrs ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Jarny (Meurthe-et-Moselle)
The second part of the stage from Conflans-Jarny station is a route along small country roads back to Metz. The grounds of Moncel Castle near Jarny are an ideal spot for a break. From the Montvaux Valley, which we pass through, it is easy to reach the southern part of the Metz conurbation.

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