The scenery• Between the hillsides of the Vosges and the Moselle valley, this is without a doubt one of the most wooded regions in France. This "
green heart" also beats around the great
lac de Madine and in
vallée de la Zinsel which has beautiful sandstone cliffs.
Gastronomy and local produce • The area around Metz is reputed for its
mirabelle production, but there is also the discreet but very drinkable "vin gris" from the Côtes de Toul and the other produce from Lorraine – organic, no less, in the
Green farms. As for cheese, the region boasts many local varieties ("carré de Void", "tomme de Gorze", "cancoillotte de Lemud", etc.) and includes part of the PDO area for Munster. For dessert or for tea, connoisseurs appreciate the famous
redcurrant jam from Bar-le-Duc, a true luxury, as the pips are removed manually with a goose feather, according to an exclusive local tradition since the 14th century!
Hiking
• Whether you want gourmet or themed excursions, Lorraine offers an attractive choice. Just look at the 6 forest villages " (from Fresnes-au-Mont to Ville-devant-Belrain), not far from Verdun, which for the last ten years has hosted the exhibition "
Vent des forêts" (forest winds) or "art in the open-air": walkers are invited on 6 tours (a total of 40 km but you can choose how far you go!) to see some 140 works of art installed among the trees, throughout spring and summer. No less than twelve de GR cross the region.
Cyclotourism • Near
Gérardmer, at the bottom of the Vallée des Lacs, the forest is also much to be admired. And further south, starting from Remiremont, cycling comes into its own with the superb
Haute-Vosges green route, whose 2 branches (towards Cornimont or towards Bussang) total 54km and follow the tracks of an old railway. Cyclists are now looking forward to the extension towards
Bresse.
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Navigable waterwaysA frontier region at the intersection of waterways, Lorraine boasts 150km of navigable water on the Moselle and 135km on the Meuse (which continues on into Champagne-Ardennes), not forgetting the Sarre and the canals. The Marne au Rhin canal is famous for its lock with an inclined plane at Saint-Louis-Arzviller: spectacular and very much appreciated by the boaters! Around ten river cruise boats operate on this large network.