Thionville / Metz

After Thionville, La Voie Bleue slips away from this well-fortified town with its two lock bridges, masterpieces of military engineering. You then pass industrial heritage, cycling past Illange Port, France’s leading river port for metallurgical products, followed by the U4 blast furnace, a rare monument from the 20th century’s steel industry to have been transformed into a cultural and heritage centre. Reaching the city of Metz, the cycle route crosses pretty lakes and wetlands. Take the time to wander around Metz’s historic centre before continuing on your trip; St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Centre Pompidou-Metz modern art museum count among many unmissable sights in this, the capital of the Lorraine region.

The route

Leaving Thionville, the main cycle route runs along greenways following the Moselle’s east bank and is signposted ‘V50’. South of Mondelange, the route then hugs the Canal de la Moselle up to the crossing of the A4 motorway. Next, a small road leads you past some lakes before you rejoin the Moselle River. The route continues alongside the river until it joins the banks of the Canal de la Moselle à Metz. On the explanatory panels at several spots along the way, you’ll see how this stretch of the route also carries the name of ‘Charles le Téméraire’.

SNCF (French national railways network)

TER line Nancy <> Metz <> Hagondange <> Uckange <> Thionville. Several trains a day

Don't miss

• Thionville: drawbridge, Sarrelouis gate, Flea Tower, Saint-Maximin church
• Illange: industrial port
• Uckange: Blast furnace U4, Jardin des Traces
• Amnéville les Thermes: city of leisure activities
• Maizières les Metz: Walygator amusement park