Day trip · Moselle, Luxembourg, Germany
Three countries, one day: the secret three-borders itinerary
Imagine having your morning coffee in France, lunch in Luxembourg and setting foot in Germany in the afternoon, without ever showing a passport. In the far north of Moselle, that's just an ordinary day.
And it was right here that a Europe without borders was born.
Schengen: the little village that changed Europe
On the banks of the Moselle, in Luxembourg, the village of Schengen is barely a handful of streets. Yet its name is known all over the world.
On 14 June 1985, aboard a boat, the Princesse Marie-Astrid, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed the agreement that would abolish checks at their shared borders. Forty years later, in June 2025, that same boat, restored, joined the European Museum Schengen. You can go on board and step into the room where it was all signed.
Practical info. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Adults €5, ages 7 to 17 €3. About 25 minutes from Hettange-Grande.
Right next door, the tripoint where Apach (France), Perl (Germany) and Schengen meet also marks kilometre zero of the Voie Bleue, a cycle route of more than 700 km that runs all the way down to Lyon.
Rodemack, "the little Carcassonne of Lorraine"
About twelve minutes from Hettange-Grande, Rodemack has something unreal about it. Listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France (Plus Beaux Villages de France), it is encircled by 700 metres of 14th-century ramparts, 6 to 9 metres high and punctuated by six towers. Above, a Renaissance citadel watches over the lanes.
You wander aimlessly, lose yourself beneath the fortified gateways, carry on to the gardens. In June, the medieval festival turns the village into a film set.
Sierck-les-Bains: the castle of the Dukes of Lorraine
Perched above the Moselle, Sierck castle already existed in 1067. It has seen it all: taken by Charles the Bold in 1475, by the French in the 17th century, dismantled on Louvois's orders in 1673, then fortified again. From its ramparts, the view plunges over the valley and, in the distance, towards Germany.
Château de Malbrouck: the English duke and the nursery rhyme
Begun in 1419 by Lord Arnold VI of Sierck, the castle at Manderen bears a name every French child has sung: Malbrouck. It comes from the Duke of Marlborough, who set up his headquarters here in 1705.
Long left in ruins, it was bought in 1975 by the Moselle département and restored between 1991 and 1998. Today it bills itself as the only fully preserved 15th-century castle in Lorraine, and hosts exhibitions and events.
Practical info. Open April to the end of October, closed Mondays. €7 (concessions €5), free for under-12s. About 30 minutes from Hettange-Grande.
The Moselle wine route
Few people know it: French Moselle has its own vineyards and its own appellation, AOC Moselle since 2010. Around 73 hectares, some twenty winegrowers, and three wines out of four are white: Auxerrois, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris. The 46-km wine route links villages such as Contz-les-Bains, Haute-Kontz and Sierck-les-Bains.
A tip: stop at a winegrower's and taste a well-chilled Auxerrois overlooking the Moselle. There's no better way to end the day.
The perfect itinerary
- Morning: Rodemack, in the cool of the morning, while the lanes are still quiet.
- Late morning: Schengen, its museum and the boat where the agreement was signed.
- Lunchtime: lunch on the banks of the Moselle.
- Afternoon: Château de Malbrouck, then Sierck-les-Bains.
- Early evening: a wine tasting along the wine route.
A short loop: no stop is more than half an hour's drive from Hettange-Grande.
→ More ideas: 15 things to do near Thionville.
The perfect base camp
Our three apartments in Hettange-Grande sit right at the start of this itinerary: Rodemack about twelve minutes away, Schengen about 25 minutes, the Luxembourg border close by. They sleep up to 10, 11 or 12 people: ideal for a group of friends, a big family or a club outing.
And if you prefer the Fensch Valley, our seven apartments in Hayange are half an hour away. Book directly on our website: it's cheaper than on the booking platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the France–Luxembourg–Germany tripoint?
Between Apach (France), Perl (Germany) and Schengen (Luxembourg), on the banks of the Moselle.
Can you visit Schengen for free?
The village is free to explore. The European Museum Schengen charges admission (€5 for adults).
Which Moselle wine should you taste?
Auxerrois, the signature white grape of the AOC Moselle, or a Pinot Gris.