In many regions, the canals are a wonderful opportunity to indulge in river tourism. You can enjoy the pleasures of a stay close to nature and those of a way of travelling that invites relaxation and contemplation. You can also cycle along the river banks before taking to the surrounding paths leading to historic sites, villages and the heart of the green countryside. Terres d'Oh! is located in the magical triangle of Saarbrücken, Lagarde and Saverne, close to Germany, and invites you to take a trip along the Saar Canal and the Marne-Rhine Canal. Here, in the Grand Est and in the heart of Europe, you can enjoy a wide range of water sports and river activities, as well as hiking and cycling. They lead to the heart of a multifaceted nature, but also to the foot of the most important tourist sites. River tourism in Alsace-Lorraine is a sweet way to break away from everyday life and to multiply experiences.
Crossing the landscapes of Alsace-Lorraine by water
The Terres d'Oh! destination invites you to embark with your family or friends on board boats that are real floating homes, to sail in complete tranquillity along the Saar Canal and the Marne-Rhine Canal. On the edge of the Vosges du Nord Regional Nature Park and the Lorraine Regional Nature Park, a weekend or multi-day river cruise can be enjoyed without a boat licence. So everyone is invited to experience a stay as close to nature as possible, with bridges, tunnels, locks, dams and other ponds. River cruising in Terres d'Oh ! also means taking the time to move around, to recharge your batteries, to observe and to slow down. You take advantage of every moment and reconnect with what is essential.
Along the way, we also take pleasure in stopping at a river stop or a port to rejoin the banks, put our feet up and share a picnic in the shade of a tree. And then you get on your bike and take the roads that lead through deep forests, to hilly plains, through towns, villages and around prestigious monuments such as ancestral churches.
The river cruise to conquer Alsace and Lorraine is also the ideal opportunity to abandon the car and use soft transport to enjoy and preserve nature. It is easy to understand that those who wish to enjoy a holiday that allows them to break away from everyday life will find the Saar Canal, with its 75.5 kilometres from Gondrexange to Güdingen, and the Marne-Rhine Canal, with its 159 kilometres from Frouard to Strasbourg, to be an ideal playground for living and sharing experiences that will allow them to immerse themselves in everything that makes the region so beautiful and rich.
Multiplying experiences to immerse yourself in the territory
This is undoubtedly the strength of a river cruise in Terres d'Oh! not only to let yourself go to the rhythm of the canals and their banks, but also to discover all the surrounding riches. And in Alsace-Lorraine, there is plenty to do to enjoy nature, heritage, culture and understand its history.
During the various stops that take place during the stay, families and groups of friends can climb on their bikes to ride along the banks of the Saar, where the Franco-German greenway passes in turn through rivers, forests, ponds, meadows and wetlands with incredible flora and fauna. At the Marne-Rhine canal, another greenway leads to the heart of the Alsace plain. Among the other activities not to be missed, you can travel along the river Saar in a boat with a guide, in order to discover its history and its natural wealth. The Essarts pond is the perfect place to observe the different species of trees and birds that inhabit the water. In the heart of the Moselle, a break in the Seille valley offers the opportunity to approach salt springs that are unique in France and rare in Europe. You can observe plants typical of the shores of the northern seaside!
In addition to walking and cycling through the Alsace-Lorraine countryside, there are many other activities for families and groups of friends to enjoy during a river cruise in Terres d'Oh, such as the Spin Valley cycle track and its bucolic route through the fields. At another time, it's a white water canoe-kayak trip along the Saar. Still in connection with the pleasures of water, the pond of Mittersheim offers sessions of paddle, pedal boat, and its beach equipped and monitored is the perfect place to refresh and simply enjoy the sun.
For lovers of beautiful stones and history, the Terres d'Oh! destination never ceases to reveal its treasures. The first thing that comes to mind is the small Spielersbach valley and the church, whose construction dates back to the first centuries of Christianity. It is the last remnant of the vanished village of Birsbach and the place is full of mysteries. Between two boat trips, you can also go to the Dabo Rock, a historical Celtic, Roman and medieval site. It is there that you will discover splendid troglodyte houses and the Roman oppidum. The rock and its chapel which emerge in the middle of the Vosges mountains at an altitude of 664 m are also incredible sights in the area. And then there are the pretty villages to be reached from the canals. For the pleasure of strolling through the narrow streets, stopping for a drink and enjoying the local life. The medieval town of Fénétrange reveals a historic centre where master and artisan houses of all styles, a castle, a hospice and a collegiate church cohabit. Sarrebourg awaits the curious to follow the Chagall trail and contemplate the exceptional stained glass window in the Cordeliers chapel. The tour continues with a visit to the Musée du Pays de Sarrebourg which, in the middle of its contemporary setting, houses a space dedicated to Marc Chagall and a beautiful exhibition of porcelain and earthenware from the Niderviller factory.
Terres d'Oh ! is also a favourite destination for gourmets, who take as much pleasure in stocking up on good regional produce at markets such as Diemeringen, as they do in visiting the most beautiful gastronomic addresses. In this respect, the restaurant l'Écluse 16, located on the banks of the canal of the Houillères de la Sarre in Altwiller, offers a very interesting menu to delight the taste buds with the best local flavours.
More information on the website of the association Bassin Touristique de la Sarre, as well as on the Facebook and Instagram pages
