« The Meuse bicycle tour », a tourism project on a European scale In June 2012, the partner countries (the Netherlands, Belgium and France including the Meuse département and the Lorraine CRT (Regional Tourism Committee)) expressed their desire to create an international cycle touring circuit, “La Meuse à Vélo” covering a distance of more than 900 km, starting from the source of the Meuse on the Langres plateau in Haute Marne and going down to its delta where it comes out into the North Sea, with a common identity along its whole route. A real challenge for the development of tourism in Meuse The Meuse département, represented by the CDT (Départemental Tourism Committee) and the Highways Department, has been deeply involved in this major project and has worked on putting it in place in Meuse, taking cycling routes and shared roads, and shortly the Voies Vertes greenways. The route proposed here is the section going through the Meuse département. These are Stages 4 to 10, departing from Neufchateau (Vosges) and going to Sedan (Ardennes): • Stage 4 : Neufchâteau > Vaucouleurs • Stage 5 : Vaucouleurs > Commercy • Stage 6 : Commercy > Saint-Mihiel • Stage 7 : Saint-Mihiel > Verdun • Stage 8 : Verdun > Dun-sur-Meuse • Stage 9 : Dun-sur-Meuse > Stenay • Stage 10 : Stenay > Sedan Eventually, touring cyclists will be able to make the most of a real offering all along this route in terms of identified services – toilets and waterpoints, tourist information – and of attractive reception conditions at the tourist sites (bicycle racks, etc.), restaurants and accommodation. To date CDT Meuse has identified some accommodations in the Meuse Valley that are close to the route and that meet the criteria required for receiving touring cyclists. You will take a route through the countryside over 207 km, that you will share with motor vehicles. So take care! STENAY AND ITS BREWING TRADITION With its bourgeois houses, its bandstand… Stenay, the northern gateway to the département; is a charming little town in the Meuse Valley. Close to the Belgian abbeys, such as Orval where they make some excellent beers, Stenay houses the largest museum in Europe entirely dedicated to beer. You will be able to discover the history of beer there, and how it is made thanks to a collection of more than 50,000 objects. DUN-SUR-MEUSE PLAYS THE CONTEMPORARY CARD A small town in the Meuse Valley, Dun-sur- Meuse – a Holiday Green Resort – plays the contemporary card, paying tribute to one of the greatest French 20th century sculptors and friend of Picasso, Jean Robert Ipousteguy, in a centre that is dedicated solely to him. Dun-sur-Meuse is also developing an offer designed for families with the Lac Vert leisure park, and its boat outings on the Meuse… VERDUN, SYMBOLIC TOWN AT THE HEART OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF EUROPE Verdun has a rich history and a thousand- year heritage. It has always been at the heart of historical events and decisive challenges that have marked history and contributed to the construction of Europe. Above all known for the battle in 1916, Verdun has managed to preserve and show its architectural heritage to advantage (Portes Chaussée and Saint Paul gateways, Cathedral, etc.). Today, Verdun has definitively chosen the route of Memory and Peace. It’s an agreeable town where it’s pleasant to stroll along the Quai de Londres, a relaxing place on the banks of the river where leisure boats cruise. There are a number of sites worth visiting: the Citadelle Basse, Monument à la Victoire, le Centre Mondial de la Paix (World Peace Centre)… not to mention Braquier, the sugared almond maker. SAINT MIHIEL, THE BENEDICTINE TOWN Founded in 709, Saint-Mihiel was originally a Benedictine Abbey. The power of the Benedictine order contributed to the town’s expansion. St Michel Church and the Benedictine Library, a jewel of Lorraine art, continue to be extremely interesting evidence of this. Saint-Mihiel is also the cradle of Ligier Richier, Lorraine’s greatest Renaissance artist. His school of sculpture has left numerous works, including the Sépulcre in St Etienne Church and the Pâmoison de la Vierge in St Michel Church. COMMERCY, STANISLAS’ FAVOURITE TOWN For a long time Commercy was the residence of the Dukes of Lorraine and harbours the memory of the last Duke, Stanislas, with its castle, and also its famously delicious madeleines. You will also be able to visit the Ceramics and Ivory Museum which houses one of the largest publicly owned collections of European and Asian ivory in France, along with a china and porcelain collection. Three kilometres away from Commercy you will find the Euville and Lérouville quarries whose stone was used to construct the monuments put up under Napoléon III (Louvres, Gare de l’Est, Petit and Grand Palais, Opéra Garnier…) VAUCOULEURS, CITE JOHANNIQUE The glorious past of Vaucouleurs is expressed in places conjuring up the extraordinary saga of the little Lorraine shepherdess, Joan of Arc. You will be able to discover essential sites evoking the epic tale of Joan of Arc: the crypt of the castle’s chapel and the Porte de France gateway, as well as the Jeanne d’Arc Museum which is dedicated to representations of the virgin warrior and martyr, and of the sites. FOCUS ON THE TOWNS/STAGE THE MEUSE BICYCLE TOUR www.velo-meuse.fr ACCOMMODATIONS Auberge du Faisan Doré - 3 rue de l’écluse - 55700 Inor Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 80 35 45 - www.aubergedufaisandore.com Hotel du Râle des Genêts** - 6 allée des Islettes - 55110 Dun-sur-Meuse Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 83 80 85 - www.hotel-le-rale-des-genets.com Guesthouses de la Ville Haute - 2 rue du Pape Etienne IX 55110 Dun-sur-Meuse - Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 83 93 30 www.leschambresdelavillehaute.fr Guesthouses - 33 rue du Port - 55110 Consenvoye Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 85 87 54 - www.chambresdhotes-consenvoye.fr Guesthouses Les Bleuets - 6 rue de la Cheture - 55110 Forges-sur -Meuse Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 85 82 33 - www.chambresdhotes-lesbleuets.com Hotel Le Village Gaulois** - 11 rue du Parge - 55100 Marre Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 85 03 45 - www.villagegaulois.com Hotel Les Jardins du Mess**** - 22 quai de la République - 55100 Verdun Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 80 14 18 - www.lesjardinsdumess.fr Hotel du Tigre **- 22 avenue de Paris - 55100 Verdun Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 86 34 47 Hotel Les Colombes* - 9 avenue Garibaldi - 55100 Verdun Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 86 05 46 - www.hotel-lescolombes.com Guesthouses Villa Chantal - 9 avenue du Général Boichut 55100 Verdun - Tel. : 00 33 (0)6 78 10 34 40 - www.villachantal.fr Guesthouses Maison Mirabeau - 15 avenue de Troyon - 55100 Verdun Tel. : 00 33 (0)6 19 54 51 94 - www.maisonmirabeau.com Camping des Breuils*** - 7 allée des Breuils - CD 34- 55100 Verdun Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 86 15 31 - www.campinglesbreuils.com Guesthouses La Belle Roise - 10 rue haute - 55100 Belleray Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 84 22 65 - www.chambredhotes-labelleroise.fr Guesthouses Château de Labessière - 9 rue du Four 55100 Ancemont - Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 85 70 21 - www.chateau-labessiere.fr Hostellerie du Château des Monthairons - 26 route de Verdun - 55320 Les Monthairons - Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 87 78 55 - www.chateaudesmonthairons.fr Hotel de la Gare** - 4 place de l’ancienne gare - 55300 Saint-Mihiel Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 89 38 39 - www.hotel-de-la-gare-st-mihiel.com Hotel de la Table des Bons Pères*** - Relais de Romainville - 55300 Bislée Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 89 09 90 - www.relais-romainville.com Guesthouses La Maison de l’Étang - 15 rue petite de l’Orme 55300 Sampigny - Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 90 75 66 - www.maisondeletang.fr Gîte de groupe de Maillemont - 25 rue du Dr Vauthier - 55200 Lérouville Tel. : 00 33 (0)6 38 34 13 10 - www.gitedemaillemont.fr Hotel de la Madeleine*** - Z.A. La Louvière - 55200 Commercy Tel. : 00 33 (0)9 29 91 51 25 - hotelrestaurantdelamadeleine.fr Hotel le Provençal** - 47 rue Jeanne d’Arc - 55200 Euville Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 91 19 63 – www.hotel-le-provencal-meuse.fr Lor’n Hôtel** - 12 avenue Maginot - 55140 Vaucouleurs Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 90 69 70 - www.lorn-hotel-vaucouleurs.fr Guesthouses La Ferme de la Vaise - 27 grande rue 55140 Maxey-sur-Vaise - Tel. : 00 33 (0)3 29 90 85 19 - www.tourismerural.fr LE DÉPARTEMENT meuse