I left Metz at 7 a.m. and headed toward Nancy, the only planned stop for the day. It was about 60 km away. The road alternated between following the Moselle River and various canals, though at times it was hard to tell—I was surrounded by trees, and it felt like I was riding through a forest. Even when the sun was high, the shade helped me keep my cool—if you know what I mean.
I arrived in Nancy around 11 a.m. and did a small loop through the city’s main attractions. I really liked it—compact, charming, and lively without being overwhelming. There were tourists, of course (myself included), but nothing too crowded or annoying. Stanislas Square is absolutely beautiful—no wonder it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.
I picked up a local specialty, bergamot candies, and continued on toward a small village or town where I was supposed to camp. Surprisingly, when I got close, I still had energy, so I pushed on to the next village or town that had a campground. Even more surprising, Bayon, a quiet little town where the Moselle and Madon rivers meet, had a Carrefour, a restaurant, and a few other shops. Before heading to the campground, I stocked up on groceries so I wouldn’t have to go out again later.
Then came a lazy, peaceful afternoon. Life is good!
Today in numbers:
107 km – distance cycled
300 — listed Art Nouveau buildings located in Nancy
17% — of Nancy’s population are students