Frequently Asked Questions
Plan your trip
You can stock up on supplies in almost all of the villages along the canal or river: see the waterway map on board the boat for details of where to find a grocer’s, baker’s, fishmonger’s, butcher’s, etc. On the day of your departure, make use of your car to do a big shop before you set off.
Try out the nearby restaurants
You can hire a trailer at the Maison du Vélo du Grand Nancy. Not all accommodation providers accept dogs. You are advised to make enquiries before you leave.
(picnic sites, viewpoints, activities, water points, etc.)
The Boucle de la Moselle passes through cities (Nancy), big towns (Toul) and small towns (Liverdun and Pompey), which have all the everyday amenities you need, at close proximity to the cycle path. Eateries and accommodation are found all along the route through the countryside. There are a number of picnic sites, for instance at Liverdun, Villey-Saint-Etienne, Villey-le-Sec and Maron.
The Moselle Loop offers everything you need for safe, effortless cycling. The cycle paths along the river and canals are all level. There are two places at Sexey-aux-Forges and Pompey where there is a slight, quick gradient.
Bathing is not permitted in the Moselle. Dangerous currents can be caused by the opening of a sluice-gate. Ask at your point of departure for all the information concerning bathing.
The GPS tracks can be downloaded onto your bike GPS or smartphone.
See this page of the France Vélo Tourisme website (content in French)
The period April to September is ideal. A short winter or an Indian summer are always possible and offer the opportunity for a last-minute getaway.
Nancy is served by both high-speed rail (TGV) and regional express trains (TERs). Toul is served by a small number of mainline trains as well as regional express trains (TERs). Liverdun and Neuves-Maisons are served only by regional express trains (TERs).
More information here.
Nationals of EU Member States are required to show a valid identity document (ID card or passport). Broadly speaking, the documents required for entry into France are the usual ones.
Yes. Please ask at the tourist office in Toul or Liverdun for the full list of names and addresses.
By bike
Bicycles are permitted free of charge on regional express trains (TERs), with no booking required. Mainline trains, including the high-speed TGV, offer more limited provision: booking is required and a fee of €10 per cycle is payable. On some TGVs, bicycles are not permitted at all. You will need to find out what the rules are for each specific train time.
Find all the information on the SNCF website.
The Boucle de la Moselle is 85km long and allows you to return to your starting point. The cycle paths along the river and canals are all level. There are two places at Sexey-aux-Forges and Pompey where there is a slight, quick gradient.
It is possible to do part of the Boucle de la Moselle and catch the train back. If you do so, you will have to plan your day around the train times. The trail is divided into three sections. Toul-Nancy: 41 km Nancy-Liverdun: 24 km Toul-Liverdun: 20 km.
The ‘Accueil Vélo’ label requires that tourism providers:
– Be less than 5 km from a cycle path.
– Offer appropriate facilities, such as secure bike storage and cycle repair kits.
– Provide a warm welcome, including useful information and advice about routes, weather conditions, etc.
– Offer specialised services for cyclists, such as baggage transfer, laundry service, hire of bikes and accessories, bike cleaning, etc.
See the website for the full list of labelled service providers found on or near the Boucle de la Moselle, marked with the ‘Accueil Vélo’ logo (the logo is also displayed at the reception of these businesses).
You can find GPS routes for the itinerary and themed routes in the “The Boucle de la Moselle” section.
The tracks can be downloaded onto your bike GPS and smartphone from the Boucle de la Moselle website.
For more information on the downloadable applications, visit the France Vélo Tourisme website.
No, you must return it to the rental location.
Motorhome
There are several areas along the Boucle de la Moselle: Toul, Nancy, Richardménil and Liverdun. Find them here.
By boat
Rental boats can be driven without a licence. On the day of departure, you will receive all the instructions you need to become the ‘master of your own ship’. You will then receive a carte de plaisance (pleasure boat licence) and a provisional boating licence valid for the duration of your trip. Boating is permitted for anyone aged 16 years or over.
Three days.
The normal cruising speed for a pleasure boat is around 5 mph and it takes about 20 minutes to go through a lock. You can reckon on doing 4 to 6 hours each day, which will enable you to cover a distance of 20 to 25 miles, not forgetting to factor in the time spent at each lock. A pleasure boat travels at an average speed of 3 mph on canals and 5 mph on rivers. Locks take time and teach us to take our time. You will need to allow three days to cover the 60 miles of the Boucle de la Moselle by boat.
Going through a lock is a simple and fun manoeuvre if you follow some basic tips: always manoeuvre slowly and carefully, and be patient if there are other boats waiting at the lock. Working the locks is easier if there are two of you. As you will discover, going through the locks is a special part of your trip. You can chat with the lock-keeper, or simply take a break to soak up the local atmosphere and socialise with other boaters.
The time needed to go through a lock varies, as it depends how much traffic there is, but an average estimate is 20 minutes.
Locks are usually open every day, but you may find they are closed on some bank holidays. Opening times vary from canal to canal. They will be provided to you during your induction or at the time of booking. THE RIVER MOSELLE 15 April to 10 November: 6 am – 6 pm 11 November to 14 April: 7.30 am – 5.30 pm THE CANALS 9 am – 6 pm, throughout the year
What dates are they closed? 1 January, 1 May, 1 November, 11 November and 25 December.
No, you do not have to pay to go through a lock.
Most mooring-sites have enclosed and/or covered parking. You will usually have to pay a parking fee at your point of departure.
There are marinas in Nancy and Toul, and mooring-sites at Champigneulles, Pompey, Liverdun, Villey-Saint-Etienne, Pierre-la-Treiche, Maron, Richardménil and Laneuveville-devant-Nancy.
Water supply points are shown on the waterway map found on board your boat. The capacity of the water tank varies according to the size of the boat. You should set off with a full tank, which should usually last you about 2 days, at reasonable consumption. The cost of filling up ranges from nothing to a few euros.
