The best walks and hikes around Éply

Not accessible anymore unfortunately

A nice place to stay if you want to visit Nancy and Metz

Proud stones on a proud hill At the top of the Butte de Mousson, 200 metres above the Moselle valley, lie the impressive remains of the medieval Château de Mousson. Built in the 11th century by the Counts of Bar, it was once a strategic stronghold that levied tolls on the trade routes between Dijon and Metz. The castle was destroyed in 1633 on the orders of Richelieu, as punishment for the Lorraine resistance to the French crown. Since then, only the ruins remain: an oval wall, remains of towers, and the outlines of the chapel and living quarters.

At the top of the Butte de Mousson, where the castle of the Counts of Bar once stood, the Chapelle de Lumière has stood since 1961 – a modern chapel made of glass, metal and concrete, designed by architect Robert Parisot. It was built on the site of the old castral chapel, which was destroyed by American bombing in 1944. The chapel is conceived as a "lanterne des morts" – a beacon visible from afar at night, like a lighthouse of memory. The structure is pentagonal, with an open front overlooking the valley. Inside, an expressive statue of Christ in hammered copper, made by sculptor Bernard Mougin, dominates, attached to a cross of metal beams. The floor is laid in Euville stone, and the altar and ambon are carved from Comblanchien stone. The chapel has been recognised as "Architecture contemporaine remarquable" since 2015.

Gothic with a story. Behind the austere façade of this church lies a rich history. Built from the 13th century onwards by the Antonists, an order dedicated to caring for the sick, it was originally the church of a hospital. The architecture is a rare mix of Gothic Rayonnant and Flamboyant, with a unique façade designed by Jacquemin de Lenoncourt, who later also designed Toul Cathedral. In 1574, the church was handed over to the Jesuits, who transformed it into the university church of the newly founded Université de Pont-à-Mousson. In 1840, the church was one of the first buildings in France to be classified as a Monument Historique. Today, it remains a silent witness to religious, intellectual and architectural history – and a haven of peace in the heart of the city.

The architecture is a rare mix of Gothic Rayonnant and Flamboyant, with a unique façade designed by Jacquemin de Lenoncourt, who later designed Toul Cathedral. Note the asymmetrical towers and the Gothic detailing around the portal – subtle but impressive.

The name of the city says it all: Pont-à-Mousson was created around this bridge over the Moselle. Since the Middle Ages, it has connected the old town with the Mousson hill. The current bridge, rebuilt several times after floods and wars, offers a beautiful view of the abbey and the river. 📍 Tip: Take a moment to pause in the middle of the bridge – on the left the baroque abbey, on the right the lively Place Duroc.

Visible from afar on the banks of the Moselle.