Vaux (Moselle) walks

A mountain bike ride between Vaux and Gravelotte through an area fortified by the Germans between 1912 and 1916 to protect Metz. Remember that at that time (from 1870 until 1918), Alsace and Moselle were part of the German Empire.

A walk on the hills above Ars-sur-Moselle with stunning views of the Mance Valley.

The walk takes you mainly through woodland and orchards.

Head up through the woodland along the Route de Guerre to the battlefields of 1870, then walk round the Moscou farm to see the ‘Hêtre des Batailles’ (Battle Beech), which is around 200 years old and has naturally propagated by layering. Head back down via the Route du Fort Jeanne d’Arc.

A walk with varied landscapes. A gentle route through forest, grassland and cultivated areas. This route is strongly imbued with a former military presence.

Part of the hike takes place in the forest, offering beautiful views of the Moselle valley.

From the town hall, the walk leads to the Square du Saulcy and then to the Promenade de Montvaux, a former railway line. The botanical trail then leads to the Route de Guerre and passes through the forests of Forey and Flutôt, where there is a remarkable service tree. At the edge of the woods, a path leads back down towards the Chemin de Lorry. Passing by the Saint-Georges farm, the descent along the Chemin de Vazelle offers a view of an old lime kiln before returning to the town hall via the Rue de Lorry.

From the town hall, the route follows Rue de Lorry then the old railway line before joining the Botanical Trail. It then takes Route de Guerre down towards the Ruisseau de Montvaux. The path crosses the RD643 and heads back up towards Amanvillers, continuing on to the Montigny-la-Grange farm, then runs alongside the farms on the plateau and the Leipzig industrial estate. It then joins the Haie des Échevins, the Mont Saint-Germain site, and descends back towards the village via the Chemin de la Taye, the wash house and the Chemin des Fourrières, before returning to the town hall.

The route forms a circular path starting from the town hall: it passes by the wash house on the Ruisseau de Montvaux, climbs towards the archaeological site of Mont Saint-Germain, crosses the Bois du Reposoir to the Moscou farm, reaches the Hêtre des Batailles, then descends back towards the village, passing a remarkable service tree and rejoining the large wash house before returning to the starting point.

From the town hall, the route follows the stream then climbs towards Rue Jean d’Apremont and the footpath linking Châtel to Rozérieulles. It joins the Route de Guerre, crosses the Bois du Reposoir and passes close to the Mont Saint-Germain site before descending towards the Montvaux valley. The return route takes you via the Pas d’Âne, then through the village and along the Chemin des Fourrières.

A walk around Châtel-Saint-Germain, exploring the remains of the fortifications surrounding the city of Metz, including the famous 360 steps of a gigantic staircase! The highlight is the archaeological site at Châtel and its sarcophagi. And, as always, the forest, with a stretch exposed to the wind on the plateau.

From the town hall, the route heads towards Lessy then climbs towards the Saint-Georges farm, offering a view over the Moselle valley. It continues along the edge of the woods to the Route de Guerre and the small viaduct, then follows the Ruisseau de Montvaux before crossing the RD643 and climbing the 360-step staircase. The path then passes by the Leipzig farm and the Mont Saint-Germain site before heading back down towards Châtel via the wash house, the Chemin des Fourrières and the Rue de Lorry.

From the town hall, the route follows Rue du Ruisseau then climbs via Rue Jean d’Apremont, Rue de Cléry and Rue du Rebénot before joining Chemin des Goules and Route de Guerre. The route crosses the woods, passes near Captain Apchié’s grave, runs alongside Fort Jeanne-d’Arc and the old graves linked to the fighting of 1870. It continues towards the Moscou farm and the hamlet of Le Reposoir, then descends towards Châtel via the Square du Tagnon, Rue de Bonne-Fontaine and Ruelle de Gravelotte to return to the town hall.

From Square du Tagnon, the route climbs towards the historic site of Mont Saint-Germain, then joins the Route de Guerre and the Route de Vernéville. It passes through the Bois des Bannaires, goes past the 1870 monument and the Ferme Saint-Hubert, then continues towards the Ferme de Moscou and the Hêtre des Batailles. The descent towards Châtel follows the Chemin de Gravelotte, before returning to Square du Tagnon via Rue Bonne-Fontaine.

From the Square du Tagnon, the route climbs towards the schools then joins the Route de Guerre and the ancient Roman road, formerly known as the Chaussée de France. It passes close to Fort Jeanne-d’Arc, skirts the site, then offers an unobstructed view of Metz before crossing the Bois du Reposoir. The descent is via the Chemin de Gravelotte, where you can see a remarkable service tree. The return route follows Rue de Cléry and Rue de Bonne-Fontaine back to the starting point.

From Square du Tagnon, the route climbs towards the historic site of Mont Saint-Germain, then joins the Haie des Échevins and the Fort de Guise military road. After passing through Montvaux, the route follows the Route de Guerre through the forests of Forey and Flutôt, then descends along the edge of the woods towards Châtel. The final stretch takes you past the railway line, the Chemin des Fourrières and Place Bompard, before following the stream back to Square du Tagnon.

A superb walk in the woods of Châtel-Saint-Germain and Rozérieulles. Walk through the enchanting ruins on the heights of Châtel, pass by the Jeanne d'Arc and François de Guise Fortified Groups built by the Germans, and admire the magnificent Hêtre des Batailles (Battle Beech) and a few graves from the 1870 war.

Along the banks of the Moselle, starting from Montigny-lès-Metz.

A beautiful circuit along the Mosel through the charming villages bordering it, namely: Jouy-aux-Arches, Corny-sur-Moselle, Novéant-sur-Moselle, Dornot and Ancy-sur-Moselle.

Most of this beautiful loop takes place in woodland. It will take you through the villages of Jouy-aux-Arches, Féy and Corny-sur-Moselle, passing through the main woods of these villages and offering beautiful views over the Moselle valley.Good waterproof footwear recommended.

Loop around Mont Saint-Quentin, starting from Col de Lessy, through the villages of Lorry and Vigneules, via Ferme Saint-Maurice, Notre-Dame du Gros Chêne and Châtel-Saint-Germain.

Enjoy a breath of fresh air on the heights of Mont Saint-Quentin, starting from the Col de Lessy. Cross the plateau to the Saint-Georges farm, then Vazelle, and return via Lessy

A short historical and wooded walk on Mont Saint-Quentin.

A short, mostly shaded walk on the hill overlooking the pretty village of Augny.

A short walk of one hour and thirty minutes, accessible to all and suitable for all seasons. It will take you on a tour of part of the village of Plappeville, its church (dating from the 11th to the 15th century) and some of its most beautiful narrow streets.

A short walk through the vineyards with numerous views of the Moselle and the Fraze rocks.

A lovely walk in the hills above Metz. Discover an old limestone quarry and enjoy panoramic views of the Moselle valley and the Croix Saint Clément.

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 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.

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.