Moselle is a departement in the far north-east corner of France, on the borders with both Germany and Luxembourg. Located within the larger region of Lorraine, Moselle is named after the river of the same name that flows through the area. It is also the name of a well-known white wine that is produced in the vineyards here. Moselle is a mainly rural area, with lots of outdoor and natural attractions, though the main town of Metz has plenty of historical buildings and cultural events too. Being on the border of Germany, the region was also an important one during the 20th century conflicts and there are reminders of this in some of the defensive forts still standing in the Moselle countryside.
The picturesque city of Metz is a very pleasant one to stroll around, with its mixture between narrow, medieval streets and the more modern open boulevards and public squares with their lively pavement cafes. The city is also crossed by a network of canals, and you can take boat tours of the waterways in the summer months. One of the main attractions is the large Gothic cathedral, which has some of the most impressive stained glass windows in the region.
There are two Regional Nature Parks in Moselle, the Lorraine in the west and the Northern Vosges in the west. Both are ideal locations for hiking, cycling and even some more extreme activities! The Northern Vosges Park is especially popular with nature lovers, thanks to the many rare and unusual species that can be found there. If you want to get a great view of Moselle, the surrounding departements and even into Germany, you should head south and climb the Dabo Rock, an unusual pink sandstone outcrop, with a tiny chapel built on top. One of the most intriguing of Moselle's tourist attractions is the boat lift that takes boats up a hill from one canal to another, saving them from having to get through 17 locks to make the same journey! Tourists can even have a go, by riding a special boat that only goes down the lift.
The defensive Maginot Line, a ring of forts built in the 1930s to prevent a German invasion of France, passed through the Moselle region, and many of the 58 buildings are still standing today. One of the largest, the Hackenberg fort, is at the Moselle town of Veckring and is a popular tourist attraction, with a small museum detailing the history of the fort and the construction of the Maginot Line itself.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Moselle? Then below is a selection of gites in Moselle and villas in Moselle that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
