Nancy / Parroy

A stroll around famed Place Stanislas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with adjoining grand squares, is a must before you head to Nancy’s Port de Plaisance (river port) to get cycling. You ride off beside the Canal de la Marne au Rhin. After a few kilometres, you’ll spot the soaring towers of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port’s Basilica, built in Flamboyant Gothic style, and recalling the legends of St Nicholas. Further on, at Varangéville, the region’s last functioning salt mine welcomes visitors, teaching them about how this ‘‘white gold’’ is extracted from 160m under ground. Close to the cycle route, the town of Lunéville is famed for its magnificent 17th-century château, nicknamed the Versailles of Lorraine, a gem to visit.

The Route

The route doesn’t present any particular difficulties, following as it does the course of the Canal de la Marne au Rhin. The V52 cycle route uses the same trail as La Voie Bleue cycle route up to Laneuveville-Devant-Nancy, where it then heads off in a different direction, towards Saint-Nicolas-de-Port. Take care if you leave the cycle route at Jarville-la-Malgrange to head towards the Château de Montaigu or the Musée Le Feru des Sciences, or at Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, heading towards the Basilica, as you’ll need to ride along stretches of roads shared with motorized traffic that can be busy at rush hour. From Crévic on, the V52 leads you into bucolic countryside. At Einville-au-Jard, there’s a link to reach Lunéville along a quiet little road, going via Bonviller. A bit before Parroy, there’s a lake, or étang, that is both a haven for flora and fauna and a place to enjoy a range of outdoor activities.

Don't miss

• Nancy: its ensemble of three 18th-century squares, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site; extraordinary buildings from the medieval, French Renaissance and Art Nouveau periods; the Jardin Botanique; the Musée de l'École de Nancy (showcasing Art Nouveau at its height).
• Saint-Nicolas-de-Port: the Basilica dedicated to St Nicholas, patron saint of the people of Lorraine; the Musée Français de la Brasserie.
• Varangéville: the Mine de Sel, a salt mine 
• Étang de Parroy, a lake with an outdoor leisure centre, or base de loisirs
• Nearby: Lunéville and its château nicknamed "Le Petit Versailles lorrain"