Attractions and Places To See around Éply - Top 20

Be sure to stay overnight in the monastery and discover the garden and rooms

The abbey is well worth a visit. I would recommend spending the night in this unique setting.

An overnight stay at the abbey is worthwhile, as you sleep in a truly unique setting. We chose the location because it's ideally located for cycling tours along the Moselle to Metz and Nancy.

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.

This imposing 18th-century abbey is one of the finest examples of baroque monastic architecture in Lorraine. Once the headquarters of the Order of the Premonstratensians, the building now houses a cultural centre and a hotel. Situated on the banks of the Moselle, between Metz and Nancy, the abbey offers a unique mix of heritage, art and tranquillity. The gardens, monumental staircase and cloisters are open to the public and are an impressive stop on any bike tour.

🏰 Pont-à-Mousson – City of bridges, books and baroque Located on the Moselle, between Metz and Nancy, Pont-à-Mousson is a city with deep roots. It was founded around a medieval bridge and became an intellectual centre thanks to the creation of the University of Lorraine in the 16th century. The city has been hit by wars several times, but has always risen again. Today, you can admire the baroque abbey of the Prémontrés, the lively Place Duroc with its Renaissance houses, and Gothic churches such as Saint-Martin and Saint-Laurent. Pont-à-Mousson is also known for its industrial heritage – it is the world centre for cast iron pipes – and for its cultural festivals such as the Mousson d’Été.

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.

On the banks of the Moselle, between Metz and Nancy, rises one of the most beautiful baroque abbeys in France: the Abbaye des Prémontrés. Built between 1705 and 1735, it was the spiritual and intellectual centre of the order of the Prémontrés. The abbey is a masterpiece of Lorraine architecture: a monumental staircase, elegant cloisters, a serene garden and an impressive façade make this a place where history becomes tangible. Once a religious stronghold, later a hospital and seminary, today a vibrant cultural centre and hotel.