Sierck-les-Bains / Thionville
On this first stage along La Voie Bleue in France, leave Sierck-les-Bains and its château built for the Dukes of Lorraine by following the meandering Moselle. Towards Contz-les-Bains, at a bend in the river, vine-covered slopes suddenly appear. The cycle route continues beside the waterway, crossing typical Lorraine villages. The inauguration of the extra-wide lock at Kœnigsmacker in 1956 enabled riverboats from the Rhine Basin to transfer to the Moselle. Reaching Thionville, Basse-Ham Base Nautique, a boating and water-sports centre set in green surrounds, provides cyclists, campers and sailors with all the facilities they could need.
Gradients and elevation
Road types
Surface
The route
The cycle route hugs the Moselle River, alternating between east and west banks, mostly on tracks not open to cars. The way is signposted ‘Chemin de la Moselle’. To change bank, there are odd stretches on roads used by motorized traffic, between Sierck-les-Bains and Contz-les-Bains, as well as at Malling. Take care on these! At Kœnigsmacker, the cycle route leads you along the river’s east bank; follow the signposts indicating ‘Chemin de la Moselle Rive Droite’, enjoying greenways not open to cars.
An alternative stretch follows the Moselle’s west bank to Thionville.
SNCF (French national railways network)
TER line Thionville <> Apach only at weekends. No train during the week
Don't miss
- Schengen (Lux): Famous for its Schengen agreements,
- Perl: vineyard, Pays des trois Frontières.
- Apach: limestone lawns
- Sierck-les-Bains: castle of the 11th century, Manderen: castle of Malbrouck (5 km away),
- Montenach: nature reserve of the 7 hills and nature house.
- Contz-les-Bains: Stromberg hill and vineyard.
- Rodemack (7 km away): medieval city (most beautiful villages in France)
- Cattenom: nuclear power plant
- Lower Ham: marina
- Koenigsmacker: large lock, Canner valley
