Need help with Lorraine versus Alsace

Posted by Heather (Sterling, MA, United States) on 03/25/25 07:19 PM

Hello,

We are landing in Frankfurt and then spending two nights in Baden Baden. From there we will be
staying in Colmar for 5 days four nights and then driving to Nancy for two nights three days to explore Nancy, Metz as a day trip and maybe Verdun. Would love to hear feedback if we should skip the Lorraine portion and stay the extra nights in the Alsace. Also thinking about doing a train day trip to Basel if we can squeeze it in. We are two active senior couples with a car. We enjoy learning about the differences in the provinces, culture, history, walking tours and beutiful buildings. We will of course experience the wine but are not big on stopping at vineyards throughout the trip. Would like to learn about the differences but not all about the wine. Any suggestions or thoughts, thank you in advance.

Posted by Gail

Downingtown, USA

03/25/25 11:20 PM

2558 posts

The US cemetery in St Avoid is a sobering reminder of WWII I think it is largest US cemetery in Europe. Please trip to visit.

Posted by KGC

Alsenborn, Germany

03/26/25 10:16 AM

1804 posts

It's really going to depend on what your interests are. I can, and have, spend several long weekends in Nancy, even though it's close enough to drive to for lunch (which I did last Saturday). You have the Art Deco architecture, Stanislas Plaza, the museums, the gardens, and this coming week a big fest. https://www.nancy-tourisme.fr/en/offers/le-4e-festival-livres-dailleurs-2025-edition-orient-nancy-en-5418291/

I also enjoy my days in Metz. The Musee de la Cour d'Ore is fantastic and free! Plus it's a beautiful city. Don't miss the Chagall windows in the Cathedral. Or the indoor market.

Verdun is a bit further from Nancy, and you'll basically drive over the American part of the Meuse-Argonne battlefield to get there. There are dozens of monuments in and around the area. The AMBC site has all the best ones. I highly recommend the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery and the Monfaucon and Montsec Memorials. https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/ At Verdun you should visit the Memorial. https://memorial-verdun.fr/de You can easily walk to the Ft Doumont, provided it's not raining.

If you drive to Verdun plan your route through the small town of Varennes les Meuse, the Pennsylvania Monument in town is excellent.

If you have any interest in Roman history I highly recommend a day over the border in Trier. This was the second largest Roman city outside of Rome itself until ad400.

Posted by C

New England, USA

03/26/25 11:25 AM

24 posts

5 days in Colmar seems excessive tbh, although I suppose it's easier than Strasbourg with the car, if that's the logic. I wouldn't skip Lorraine, there's plenty of nice things in Nancy and Metz as others have mentioned. Unless there are specific reasons you'd rather base yourself in Alsace, I'd almost consider taking a day from Colmar and adding it to Nancy and using it for a day trip to Reims or something. Sure it will be fun no matter what.

Posted by Heather OP

Sterling, MA, United States

03/26/25 12:46 PM

19 posts

Actually only 4 days, Colmar is simply a base as with a rental car we cannot drive into Strasburg due to restrictions on emissions. We are thinking one day in Colmar, taking the train into Strasburg for another full day then two other days to explore villages.

Thank you for all the comments, now am rethinking my itinerary since it looks like Verdun could be a whole day on its own.

Do you think Metz or Nancy would be a better base for potentially three night stay? If so any recommendations for lodging, we do not need to be right in the city centre.

Posted by KGC

Alsenborn, Germany

03/27/25 08:16 AM

1804 posts

Verdun can easily take a day or more. I'd stay in Metz over Nancy if you plan on going to Verdun or Trier, or Reims, just because it's closer to those locations. The place I like to stay at is The Citadel https://all.accor.com/hotel/9199/index.en.shtml?utm_campaign=seo+maps&utm_medium=seo+maps&utm_source=google+Maps . It's a great hotel, in a really good location, and has a beautiful park just out front. The State Theater is right behind, and the Governors Palace is right there. A plus for me is it's an old fortification that's been converted to another use. You're 5 minutes walk from the old part of the city, less than that to Galleries Lafayette, and just as close to the area where they set up for any festivals. They have good parking.

In Nancy I've only stayed in one location, Hotel De Guise, which is very nice. I love the location, but the parking is not the best. If you do go there make sure they arrange parking. There are two really good restaurants less than 5 minutes away; L'Arsenal, and Restaurant des Frères Marchand. The concierge can make reservations, you will need them.