City trips in the Grand Est
If you like exploring museums and admiring remarkable buildings and you’ve also got a taste for charming little bistros and tempting shop windows, there’s no need to look any further: the Grand Est is the destination for you!
By yourself or with friends or family, savour our cities’ cultural vibrancy and picturesque architecture. Let us guide you to the next stop on your list new list of favourites.
Heritage writ large in the heart of UNESCO-listed sites
No fewer than 8 Grand Est sites are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List!
From Alsace’s medieval towns to Lorraine’s royal squares, and from Champagne-Ardenne’s magnificent sacred sites to Vauban’s fortifications, a simple walk can quickly become an experience to make your head spin. Shall we keep you company as you explore these amazing places?
Magnificent sacred sites
In the Grand Est, new fewer than nine cathedrals have their steeples reaching for the sky. From the chosen venue for the coronations of the Kings of France to flamboyant Gothic architecture, each of them stands out in its own special way. And there are plenty of other impressive monuments to discover, whose wonders are further accentuated after nightfall!
The monastic architecture of Lorraine’s abbeys won’t fail to enchant you, nor will such spiritual highlights as Mont Sainte-Odile.
Toul and Metz Cathedrals both celebrate their 800th anniversary this year. Don’t miss out on these out-of-the-ordinary birthdays and the celebrations set to mark them!
Treat yourself to trip back to the days of the gallant knights of old
Follow the Alsace Castle Route and discover 80 legendary castles towering over the plains, including the famous Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle. In Ardennes, immerse yourself in medieval times during a guided tour of Sedan Castle, the largest in Europe. In Moselle, acquaint yourself with Malbrouck Castle’s remarkable architecture and artistic programming!
Visit the most impressive places of remembrance
Heavily impacted by the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and then by the First and Second World Wars, Alsace, Lorraine, Champagne and Ardenne are nothing less than open-air history books. With over 200 sites representative of those great conflicts, 4,500 monuments and such symbolic cities as Verdun, the Grand Est is an invitation to better understanding and commemoration of those dark hours in our history.
From Saint-Mihiel’s trenches to the Maginot Line’s sites, immersive visit itineraries will get you reliving soldiers’ everyday lives and remind you of the importance of memory.