The best cycling routes around Ménil-Aux-Bois

Hidden away here is a small wayside shrine to the Virgin Mary. Beautifully situated by the path.

The Meuse Canal is not perfectly straight like many French canals from the 19th century.

Magnificent church and a good bakery on the square.

We particularly enjoyed the history of the town, situated on the Meuse River. The beautiful town hall was built in 1847/48 on the site of a monastery in the Italian Renaissance style. In front of the town hall stands the gigantic equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, revered by the French. This cast-iron monument weighs 2.5 tons. Joan is said to have conquered the city. There is also a Joan of Arc Museum in the town.

Founded around 708 by Count Wulfoalde, this Benedictine abbey became an important religious and cultural centre in Lorraine. The abbey was under the protection of Charlemagne and flourished under Abbot Smaragdus in the 9th century. Today, you can still visit the abbey church of Saint-Michel, home to the masterpiece La Pâmoison de la Vierge by Ligier Richier. The 18th-century monastery library houses thousands of ancient works and is one of the most beautiful in the region.

This former abbey church forms the historic heart of Saint-Mihiel. Originally built in the 9th century, it took on its current form during major renovations in the 17th and 18th centuries. Inside, you can admire a magnificent baroque organ (1679–1681), colourful stained glass windows and the masterpiece La Pâmoison de la Vierge by sculptor Ligier Richier. A place where art, history and spirituality come together.

2 rue Notre-Dame 55300 Saint-Mihiel One of the oldest civil buildings in the Meuse, built around 1350 and bought in 1428 by René I, Duke of Bar, later known as “Le bon Roi René”. This stately home with four wings around a courtyard served as a residence and courthouse. The facade is a beautiful example of late medieval architecture. Today it is privately owned, but the exterior can be freely admired.

Saint-Mihiel is picturesquely situated on the Meuse, on the edge of the Lorraine Regional Nature Park. The town grew around a Benedictine abbey, founded in the 8th century, and flourished during the Renaissance. Visit the abbey with its impressive library, the Museum of Sacred Art, and the Saint-Michel church. Wander the charming streets, admire the sculptures of Ligier Richier, and taste local specialities such as the “croquets” and “rochers de Saint-Mihiel”. A town full of history, culture and character.