📷 Photo by Tomás Robertson on UnsplashLorraine: Metz, Nancy and Verdun
A cathedral of light, the gilded Place Stanislas and the battlefields of the Meuse, from 1916 to the American offensive of 1918.
- Distance
- 166 km (103 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 18 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- France
- Updated
- August 31, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 166 km (103 mi) with 7 stops, from Metz to Douaumont Ossuary. About 2 h 18 min of driving in total.
More road trips in France · More road trips from Luxembourg
Route description
Metz is a city of golden Jaumont stone, with the cathedral’s immense windows and the white roof of the Centre Pompidou-Metz near the station. Follow the Moselle south to Nancy, whose Place Stanislas and Art Nouveau houses make a fine evening stroll.
Head north-west across the Lorraine plateau to the Butte de Montsec, a lonely hill with an American memorial to the 1918 Saint-Mihiel offensive. Continue through Saint-Mihiel and follow the Meuse north on the D964 to Verdun.
The 1916 battlefield lies on the hills north of the town: the Verdun Memorial at Fleury, Fort Douaumont and the Douaumont Ossuary with its field of crosses. The forest still hides shell-holes and destroyed villages, marked by small chapels.
The battlefield sites are best visited on a weekday outside school holidays. Lorraine is a good off-season destination, with Christmas markets in Metz and Nancy in December.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Metz
France - 20 km
Metz Cathedral
HistoryMetz, FranceNicknamed the Lantern of God for its huge area of stained glass, from medieval work to windows by Chagall. Come on a sunny afternoon when the golden stone glows.
- 360 km
Nancy
France - 40 km
Place Stanislas
HistoryNancy, FranceAn 18th-century square framed by gilded wrought-iron gates and fountains, part of a UNESCO ensemble. On summer evenings a light show plays on the façades.
- 551 km
Montsec American Monument
HistoryMontsec, FranceA round colonnade on an isolated hill honouring the 1918 Saint-Mihiel offensive. The view reaches across the Woëvre plain to the Lac de Madine.
- 648 km
Verdun
France - 77 km
Douaumont Ossuary
HistoryDouaumont-Vaux, FranceA long vault and tower holding the bones of some 130,000 unidentified soldiers of the Battle of Verdun, above a field of crosses. Fort Douaumont and the Verdun Memorial are close by.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Metz → Nancy · 60 km · 0 h 49 minOn the way: Metz Cathedral.Overnight nearby, for example: Aire de stationnement de Camping cars de Nancy Port de Plaisance (< 1 km); Camping Les Boucles de la Moselle (11 km).
- Day 2: Nancy → Montsec American Monument · 51 km · 0 h 42 minOn the way: Place Stanislas.Overnight nearby, for example: Aire camping-car Nonsard (5 km); Aire de service Commercy (16 km).
- Day 3: Montsec American Monument → Douaumont Ossuary · 56 km · 0 h 46 minOn the way: Verdun.Overnight nearby, for example: Camping Les Breuils (7 km); Camping des Etangs de Mandre (10 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Lorraine: Metz, Nancy and Verdun?
3-day road trip of about 166 km (103 mi) with 7 stops, from Metz to Douaumont Ossuary. About 2 h 18 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Lorraine: Metz, Nancy and Verdun?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 18 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Lorraine: Metz, Nancy and Verdun start and end?
It starts in Metz and ends in Douaumont Ossuary.
Which countries does Lorraine: Metz, Nancy and Verdun pass through?
France.
Where can you camp along Lorraine: Metz, Nancy and Verdun?
OpenStreetMap lists 44 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Le Paquis, Aire de camping-car de Amnéville and Camping Les Boucles de la Moselle.
When is the best time for Lorraine: Metz, Nancy and Verdun?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
