On the Road from Nancy to Metz © French Moments
  • Home
  • Blog
  • On the Road from Nancy to Metz: A Dream Drive through Lorraine

LAST UPDATED: 22 August 2024

As a child, the road from Nancy to Metz was a familiar journey for me.

My maternal grandmother lived in Nancy, and my paternal grandmother in Metz.

Between the two cities, it’s just about 50 km.

The A31 motorway would swiftly carry us from one town to the other.

But that wasn’t the most exciting part of the trip, especially in the 80s when traffic jams were less common than they are today.

Today, I’m offering you something different.

A route that takes you off the beaten track.

Goodbye to the motorway and farewell to the lorries.

We’re taking the country roads.

The ones that wind through villages, skirt fields, and reveal a different side of Lorraine.

It’s a journey like a childhood memory, with breathtaking landscapes.

Ready for an adventure?

Come with me as I take you on a memorable road trip between Metz and Nancy, right through the heart of rural Lorraine.

On the Road from Nancy to Metz © French Moments
The Petite Suisse Lorraine
On the Road from Nancy to Metz © French Moments
In the Toulois
On the Road from Nancy to Metz © French Moments
Near the Colline de Sion

On the Road from Nancy to Metz via Verdun

This road trip begins in Nancy, the City of Golden Gates.

But this time, we’re avoiding the motorway.

Instead, we’re embarking on a more authentic route, one that takes us through Verdun.

Get ready, we’ve got five stages to cover, and each one is well worth the journey.

Nancy - Place Stanislas © French Moments
Nancy – Place Stanislas

First Stage: Nancy to Colline de Sion

For this first stage, it’s about 105 km.

We start gently with a visit to Saint-Nicolas-de-Port to admire the basilica, a gem of Gothic architecture.

Saint-Nicolas-de-Port Basilica © French Moments
Saint-Nicolas-de-Port Basilica

Next, we head to Varangéville to discover the Church of St Gorgon.

Then, it’s onwards to Lunéville, where the château and the Bosquets park provide a splendid setting for a break.

Palace of Lunéville © French Moments
Palace of Lunéville

A little further on, Gerbéviller and its landscaped park are well worth a stop, as is the village of Moyen, before reaching Magnières.

The Haroué Castle is another treasure along our route, with its magnificent park.

Haroué Castle © French Moments
Haroué Castle

We then end this first stage by climbing the Colline de Sion.

Colline de Sion © French Moments
Colline de Sion-Vaudémont

The view from here is simply breathtaking, and the atmosphere almost mystical.

As we follow the ridge of the ‘Inspired Hill’, we stop at the Barrès monument, then at the perched village of Vaudémont, which seems straight out of another time.

Barrès Monument - Colline de Sion © French Moments
Barrès Monument – Colline de Sion
Village of Vaudémont © French Moments
Village of Vaudémont

Second Stage: Colline de Sion to Vaucouleurs

Next, we head towards Vaucouleurs.

Another 99 km to cover.

We continue to Thorey-Lyautey to visit the château of Marshal Lyautey.

The road then leads us to Neufchâteau, where we take a short break before heading on to Domrémy, the birthplace of Joan of Arc.

Domrémy-la-Pucelle © French Moments
Birthplace of Joan of Arc, Domrémy-la-Pucelle

At every turn, you can feel the history, the Great History, that permeates this region.

Domrémy-la-Pucelle © French Moments
Domrémy-la-Pucelle

Finally, we cross the Meuse to reach Vaucouleurs, a town that also witnessed the presence of Joan of Arc.

Vaucouleurs © French Moments
Vaucouleurs

Third Stage: Vaucouleurs to Verdun

The third stage takes us to Verdun, 118 km away.

We pass through forests and vineyards towards Blénod-lès-Toul, then Toul, with its imposing cathedral and charming historic centre.

Blénod-lès-Toul © French Moments
Blénod-lès-Toul
Toul Cathedral © French Moments
Toul Cathedral

The wine villages of the Côtes de Toul, like Bruley, are perfect for an impromptu tasting.

Côtes de Toul near Bruley © French Moments
The vineyards of the Côtes de Toul near Bruley

Further on, Commercy welcomes us with its famous madeleines and its Château Stanislas.

Madeleines of Commercy © French Moments
Madeleines of Commercy

We then follow the Meuse to Saint-Mihiel, with a stop at the Dames de Meuse cliffs, before arriving in Verdun, a city that still bears the scars of its tumultuous history.

The River Meuse near Saint-Mihiel © French Moments
The River Meuse near Saint-Mihiel
Lorraine Cities - Verdun © French Moments
Verdun Cathedral

Fourth Stage: Verdun to Pont-à-Mousson

From Verdun, we head to Pont-à-Mousson, about 100 km away.

After exploring Verdun, we hit the road again, heading for Haudiomont, passing through typical villages like Hannonville-les-Côtes and Hattonchâtel, a perched village offering spectacular views over the region.

Castle of Hattonchâtel © French Moments
Castle of Hattonchâtel

We pass by the Butte de Montsec and its American Memorial, a place steeped in respect.

Butte de Montsec - American Memorial © French Moments
Butte de Montsec – American Memorial

The last stretch before Pont-à-Mousson takes us through the Petite Suisse Lorraine, a bucolic landscape where time seems to have stood still.

Petite Suisse Lorraine © French Moments
Petite Suisse Lorraine

Fifth Stage: Pont-à-Mousson to Metz

Finally, the last leg: Pont-à-Mousson to Metz.

We start by climbing the Butte de Mousson to explore the ruins of the medieval château.

Butte de Mousson © French Moments
Butte de Mousson

Don’t miss the town of Pont-à-Mousson, its beautiful Place Duroc, and the former Prémontrés Abbey.

Pont-à-Mousson - Abbaye des Prémontrés © French Moments
River Moselle in Pont-à-Mousson – Abbaye des Prémontrés

Next, we follow the Rupt de Mad valley, a little slice of paradise, to Novéant-sur-Moselle.

Gorze offers us a beautiful church to visit before we descend towards Metz, passing by the Roman aqueduct in Ars-sur-Moselle and Jouy-aux-Arches.

Gorze © French Moments
Gorze
Romans in Lorraine - Ars-sur-Moselle © French Moments
The Gorze to Metz Roman Aqueduct near Ars-sur-Moselle

We end this journey with a stop in Scy-Chazelles, with its fortified church, before arriving in the historic centre of Metz.

Scy-Chazelles. Photo by TCY - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Scy-Chazelles. Photo by TCY – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Metz will satisfy history and architecture enthusiasts with its magnificent Gothic cathedral (nicknamed the “Lantern of God”), its medieval Saint-Louis square, its German Imperial district, and its museums, including the famous Centre Pompidou-Metz.

Metz © French Moments
Metz – the River Moselle, the Temple and the Cathedral

Take Your Time on Your Road Trip in Lorraine

This route covers 513 km in total, enough to fill several days with rich discoveries.

Of course, this is just a suggestion for a complete route from Nancy to Metz.

You can shorten it to suit your preferences, as you don’t have to follow the entire itinerary!

Nothing stops you from just travelling part of the way just to sample what Lorraine has to offer.

No need to rush, we take it easy, stop wherever we like, and enjoy everything the road has in store for us.

This journey is much more than just a trip between two cities.

It’s an immersion in a region that has so much to show.

On the road from Nancy to Metz © French Moments
Near Gorze, on the road from Nancy to Metz
About the Author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

All photos © French Moments except when indicated.

Transparency: Some blog posts and pages may contain affiliate or sponsored links. If you are planning a trip, the use of these links helps us to run the site. There is no additional cost to you. All you have to do is click on the link and any booking you make is automatically tracked. Thank you for your support!

>