Mosel (Moselle) and Canal de la Marne au Rhin (Alsace-Lorraine)

Landscape

The 290 kilometer long Canal de la Marne au Rhin connects the basin around Paris with the plain of the river Rhin. The canal goes from the Rhine in Strassbourg till Vitry-le-François right behind Toul - shortly unconnected by the canalised Mosel between Frouard and Toul. From Frouard the Mosel proceed to the north. The river flows from the Vosges to Koblenz (544 km) into the Rhine. The canal and the Mosel goes right through the national nature park of Lorraine (Parc naturel régional de Lorraine). Here You will find biotopes with animals and plans which you would not assume in this region: insect-eating plants in swamplands, orchis and gentian families, capercailies and wild lynxes. In addition you can visit very different cities: for example the historical towns Nancy and Metz with its cathedral and art museum and the vibrant city of Thionville. 

Destination Canal de la Marne au Rhin direction East and North (Saar and Saar-Canal)

Destination Southern-Wine-Mosel

Canal de la Marne au Rhin till Nancy

West from Niderviller you will first pass a very large lock at Réchicourt which replaced six smaller locks some time ago. This impressive lock will take you down over 15m, where it will release you onto  the Lake of Réchicourt, in the center of a large nature park. Now your crew will be busy; until you get to the village of Lagarde you have to go through six locks. Further on you will pass Luneville, Einvillen and Dombasle, cross an aqueduct across the river Meurthe and eventually arrive in Nancy. Here you can park the boat right in the centre of the town and walk to the Place Stanislas and the historic part of the town. Attractice sights are also the Palais ses Ducs de Lorraine and the chirch Saint-Epvre. Next to the harbour is a chocolate factory which invites you to for a visit. (see box on the right side).

The French Mosel between Frouard and Sierck-les-Bains

In the north of Nancy, near Frouard you will get onto the Moselle which will later in Germany be called Mosel. Together with the Saar_Canal it makes the so-calles "Border Triangle-Tour". Between Frouard and Sierck-les-Bains is the Mosel a wide river with a few canal sections. Cities like Pont-à-Mousson, Metz and Thionville have good mooring facilities within easy stroll of beautiful old quarters. 

Pont-à-Mousson got named after the bridge build in the 9th century and lies idyllic on the shore of the Mosel. The place has a monastry and lots of Cafés and Restaurants.

We highly recommend Metz which is a fromer bishops`and imperial city and is well-known for its cathedral with its famous glass paintings and the new Centre Pompidou Metz. Thionville is great for night life containing many squares where you can enjoy the cafés, restaurants and bard whilst savouring the atmosphere. The castle town of Sierck-les-Bains, which location of our fleet, is where the Mosel says goodbye to France. For further information on the German and Luxembourg Mosel click here.