La Voie Bleue follows waterways through eastern France, from Apach on the Luxembourg border to Lyon. The route connects the Moselle valley with the Saône through the Canal des Vosges, bringing together riverside towns, canal heritage and countryside. Its official guide presents a journey that can be explored in sections as well as ridden end to end.
From the Moselle border to Nancy
The northern end starts at Apach, close to Luxembourg, before the itinerary follows the Moselle south. Near Sierck-les-Bains, the river winds past the château of the Dukes of Lorraine and vineyard-covered slopes around Contz-les-Bains. Farther along, the Kœnigsmacker lock is a reminder of the waterway’s role in navigation.
Thionville and Metz add an industrial and urban dimension to the journey. The route passes the port of Illange and the former U4 blast furnace before reaching wetlands near Metz. South of the city, Jouy-aux-Arches is known for its Roman aqueducts; the canal alongside the Moselle then leads towards Pont-à-Mousson. Nancy offers a substantial cultural stop, including Place Stanislas.
The Canal des Vosges and the upper Saône
Beyond Nancy, La Voie Bleue returns towards the Moselle and the Canal des Vosges. Around Charmes and Épinal, the canal-side route passes reminders of the area’s textile industry. The stretch beyond Épinal continues beside the canal, with the Bouzey reservoir and the former Manufacture Royale among the places highlighted by France Vélo Tourisme.
Between La Vôge-les-Bains and Corre, the route follows the canal and the Coney valley through the Vosges Forest. At Selles, a manually operated swing bridge illustrates how the canal accommodates boat traffic. From Corre the journey enters the Saône valley, where the official guide describes a more demanding section through Jussey before Port-sur-Saône.
Following the Saône to Lyon
The Saône provides a succession of river ports and historic towns. Between Port-sur-Saône and Ray-sur-Saône, the official itinerary suggests stops at Scey-sur-Saône and the St-Albin Tunnel, while the château above Ray-sur-Saône overlooks the valley. Farther south, Gray’s stone quays recall its river trade, and Auxonne’s port sits beside fortifications associated with Vauban.
Around Saint-Jean-de-Losne, La Voie Bleue meets EuroVelo 6; the two routes also share a section farther south between the Saône and Doubs. The route continues through the Mâcon area and Trévoux to Lyon, where the Saône meets the Rhône. Riders seeking a longer journey can connect with ViaRhôna towards the Mediterranean.
Planning a section
La Voie Bleue is a collective project supported by local authorities, with former towpaths made available by the French waterways authority, Voies navigables de France. Its official guide describes generally modest changes in altitude, but the stage descriptions distinguish family-oriented stretches from sections recommended for more frequent cyclists.
The official planner allows riders to select their own start and finish from its stages. France Vélo Tourisme says the route is signed in both directions from Sierck-les-Bains to Lyon; some older signs may use V50, Moselle-Saône à vélo, Charles le Téméraire or Échappée Bleue. Check the individual stages and current local information when deciding how to divide the trip.