Sharing borders with
Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, this French province has
seen a rich blend of varying cultural influences throughout
time. In one of Lorraine’s four departments, German
is spoken along with French. It is currently linked to other
major European cities such as Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels,
Milan, and Basel by rail.
Water is abundant in Lorraine, with over 700km of navigable
waterways, on which water-sports enthusiasts come from all
over to sail, wind surf and ride in motor boats. The soil,
rich in salt and minerals combined with mountain springs are
rumoured to have curative powers. The backdrop to the rolling
fields dotted with rivers, lakes and streams, is provided
by the Vosges mountains, a blue hue in the distance. All these
natural resources are taken advantage of: fishing is widely
practices and salt and coal is mined. Many hops are grown
alongside the traditional vineyards, as Lorraine has many
breweries.
