Lorraine

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For centuries, Lorraine has been a major European crossroads, resulting in a rich mixture of cultural influences. Today, it is an idyllic setting for holidays where the art of good living includes friendliness and good cheer in its open hearted towns and villages.

Lorraine, along with Alsace, has long been contested territory between France and Germany. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the area was predominantly populated by Germans, who opposed efforts to have the French language and customs imposed upon them, a process which Stanislaus I effectively ended during his reign but which continued afterwards. A part of Lorraine, along with Alsace, was reunited with Germany after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 causing a number of French people to emigrate into France, and a part of Lorraine remained a part of Germany until the end of World War I, when Germany had to cede it to France. Under Bismarck's German Empire Alsace-Lorraine had (unlike other German territories) virtually no autonomy and was ruled by a governor appointed by the Imperial Chancellor and use of the French language was discouraged.

The re-establishment of German rule was reversed following the German surrender in 1918. Policies forbidding the use of German and requiring that of French were then begun. The region was annexed by Germany in 1940 during World War II. Lorraine was combined with the Saarland, and Alsace with Baden. The occupation, while putting a halt to the perceived anti-Germanic oppression, subjected the region to the Nazi dictatorship, which was loathed by the majority of the people, including the ethnic Germans. The war-torn area was given again to France in November 1944 after a victorious campaign by General Patton and his army. Because of the fighting in the area, Lorraine is home to the largest American cemetery in France.

The Vosges blue mountains rise in the distance, a backdrop against the green fields and open countryside. It is a land of vivid colors, culture and culinary traditions, enjoying its vistas of ageless beauty. The majority of its numerous streams and rivers rise in the Vosges. Salts and minerals from their mountains have given the springs of Lorraine a reputation of curative powers since ancient times.

Celtic temples and Roman baths were the forerunners of the well-known spas and health resorts of Vittel and its Club Mediterranean, Contrexéville, Plombières, Bains-Les-Bains and Amneville, close to Metz. These rich natural resources play important roles, both as plant and wildlife reserves and as watersport centers. There are many varieties of lakes, varying from the deep cold glacier lakes of the Vosges to the shallower lakes and pools of the Sarrebourg and the Saulnois regions, plus the river lakes of the Meuse valley, which provide perfect habitats for trout and coarse fish in their crystalline purity. Many lakes are fishing reserves full of carp and perch. The Lindre is a fine example of a unique bird sanctuary on one of the major migration routes for many species of aquatic birds.

Sailing, windsurfing and motor boats are all unrestricted on vast expanses of water such as Madine, Gondrexange, Stock and Gérardmer. With 700 kms of navigable waterways, including the Marne-Rhine Canal and the Moselle, enthusiasts come from all over the world to enjoy cruising from lock to lock. Perhaps resting overnight in the heart of Metz at the foot of the Cathedral or taking the impressive boat-lift au Saint-Louis-Arzviller that joins Lorraine with Alsace.