Fortress and Mechanical Feats

This charming Lorraine village is overlooked by a fortress built by the abbots of Marmoutier in the 10th century, offering a superb view over the lush valley, the marina, and the canal. Glass lovers can also visit the Wurm Crystal workshop and boutique, where the craft of crystal cutting has been passed down for three generations in the purest traditional style.

Cruising the Marne-Rhine Canal, the Arzviller inclined plane is a highlight. This unique boat lift raises or lowers your boat by 45 meters , a remarkable experience! Learn more with a visit to the engine room and the barge museum. Also worth visiting: the “Fusion Libre” crystal workshop and the 500-meter summer toboggan run at the foot of the lift , great fun for families.

As you navigate toward Tannenheim, you’ll pass through a 475-meter tunnel,right after the impressive 2,306-meter Arzviller tunnel. From the Tannenheim marina, you can reach the charming village of Niderviller, renowned for its historic faience and porcelain workshop, still in operation today. While moored here, you can also take a trip to Sarrebourg (6 km away), known for its archaeological ceramics and stained glass windows by Marc Chagall.

With a height of 16 m and 40 m in length, the Réchicourt lock replaces six older locks. Each filling uses about 3 800 m³ of water,a marvel of hydraulic engineering.

If you’ve reserved bicycles during your boat holidays, you can dock at Einville‑au‑Jard and cycle 7 km to the magnificent Château des Lumières in Lunéville. A superb example of French classicism nicknamed “the Versailles of Lorraine,” this estate is counted among France’s grandest châteaux.

Visible at 85 m tall directly from the Marne–Rhine Canal, the Saint-Nicolas Basilica is one of the most majestic Gothic edifices in Lorraine. During your stop, be sure to visit this extraordinary architecture. As you stroll the streets, look up,you’ll see stork nests scattered across the town since the installation of a stork enclosure. Also worth a visit for history or gastronomy buffs: the Museum of Cinema and Photography and the French Brewery Museum.

In Nancy, boaters are well cared for: the Saint-Georges marina is located right in the city center. Once your license-free boat is docked, it's just a five-minute walk to the majestic Place Stanislas, with its wrought iron gates gilded with gold leaf, its fountains, and its beautiful pavilions. In addition to Art Nouveau buildings, your city center visit will take you to the Palais des Ducs de Lorraine, a Renaissance-style former residence of the Dukes of Lorraine, now home to the Musée Lorrain. Nearby, you can enjoy a game of mini-golf with your family in the delightful Parc de la Pépinière,unless you'd rather soak up some culture at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.