Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy offers several distinct highlights for a visit: nature watching in the Bois de la Champelle, art along the “3.54” trail, and historic buildings in old Vandoeuvre and at the Church of Sainte Melaine. To plan your visit, it helps to decide first what kind of experience you are looking for. Forest trails, viewpoints, art and historic sites offer different perspectives and need not be treated as a single itinerary.
Forest, nature trail and viewpoints
The Bois de la Champelle is a municipal deciduous forest covering 61.51 hectares. There are two walking trails in the forest. In June 2016, it joined the Association pour la Protection des Animaux Sauvages’ (ASPAS) “Refuges Nature ASPAS” network, with support from the Fédération FLORE 54. The forest protects all wildlife, and hunting is prohibited.
The Enrichards educational trail allows walkers to discover the natural and historical heritage of the hillside. Its facilities are designed to help visitors observe birds, mammals and trees, and learn about interactions between plants and insects. This offers two specific ways to learn as well as enjoy a walk: noticing individual animal and plant species, and exploring ecological relationships. The two walking trails and the educational trail therefore appeal to different interests: walking in the forest alongside focused observation and learning about how things are connected.
The Chapelle Notre Dame des Pauvres offers a beautiful panorama and also has an orientation table. From the heights of Vandœuvre, the view extends to the Grand Couronné and, to the south, to the Portois and the central Vosges. If you are interested in views, you can distinguish between the named viewpoint with its orientation table and the distant views from the heights.
Art and culture
The “3.54” art trail runs for 3.54 kilometres through Vandœuvre and its parks. It features works by local, national and international artists. This provides a distinct focus alongside nature and historic architecture, with works of art from a range of backgrounds at its heart. The Centre Culturel André Malraux is also part of the town’s cultural profile. Since 2000, it has held the “Scène Nationale” designation awarded by the French Ministry of Culture.
Historic landmarks and market
The Church of Sainte Melaine dates from the 15th and 16th centuries. Inside, it houses a Pietà, sculptures and interesting stained-glass windows. In old Vandoeuvre, a wine-growing village on the hillside, there are charming houses dating from the 16th to 18th centuries. The church and the village offer different historical perspectives: the church combines its construction period with works of art inside, while the wine-growing village features houses from several centuries.
The Marché de Vandoeuvre offers another perspective on the town. Products for sale include food such as fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, baked goods and spices, as well as manufactured goods, crafts and ready-to-wear clothing. If you are visiting specifically for a product or market day, check the latest dates and vendors in advance, as both may change.
Discover more destinations: Rehainviller, Flirey, Dommartin-sous-Amance, Ancy-Sur-Moselle, Bainville-aux-Miroirs, Homécourt, Lunéville, Briey.
For the overview of the wider region: Meurthe-Et-Moselle.
