Orne (rivière) walks

A family route suitable for all weathers, with or without your dog, fun with children, an easy and enjoyable short walk.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 place over 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.