Holidays in Moselle, Lorraine, France

Moselle is a department in the north-east of France bordered by the rest of the Lorraine region and Germany. In fact, the Moselle region became part of Germany during the Second World War before being returned to France when the Allies won. The capital of the region is the historic town of Metz, but there are other beautiful villages to visit as well outstanding natural scenery.

Metz

Metz is not only the capital of the Moselle department but is also considered the capital of the Lorraine region. The town dates from Roman times and in fact the remains of the baths make up part of the museums of Metz, also known as the Golden Courtyard, are split into four sections covering archaeology, medieval history, architecture and fine arts. The city is also home to a branch of Paris' Pompidou centre, displaying works of contemporary art from the permanent collection in the capital. There are numerous churches in the modern town of Metz that are worth visiting, including the Gothic cathedral of St Stephen and a Romanesque Protestant church on an island in the Jardin d'Amour or Garden of Love.

Medieval and Maginot

Once you get out into the Moselle countryside, you will find numerous medieval villages in the region, many still with castles or ramparts at least partly intact. Some of the best examples can be found at Fenetrange where the castle has a unique winding staircase and you can visit at twilight to see the night guard taking his traditional walk along the ramparts.

The Maginot Line is an example of more modern fortifications that were built during the build up to World War Two along the French and German border. Much of it remains standing today, including concrete forts, machine gun posts and even tank obstacles. The Line passes through the Moselle region and one of the best examples of a construction still standing is the Hackenburg fortress at Veckring. Here you can explore the underground tunnels that connected much of the Maginot Line, though not all of the guides are English-speaking. The tunnels are so extensive at this part of the line, you are even taken on a small train ride to explore as much as possible. Along the route, the train will make stops so you can visit the rooms that served secret and sometimes just functional purposes, like the kitchens that prepared food for the thousands of men that served here during the conflict.