Discover the French region of Grand Est
At the crossroads of Europe, the French region of Grand Est is a multi-faceted territory. With its rich heritage, unspoilt nature, Latin and Germanic cultures, every visit is a discovery.
Table of Contents:
1. The French region of Grand Est
2. What to visit during your weekend in Grand Est?
3. Culinary specialties of Grand Est
4. Local producers from Grand Est, in partnership with Pour de Bon
5. Teritoria celebrates its 50 years
6. What not to miss in Grand Est?
7. What to do in Grand Est?
The French region of Grand Est
Grand Est is the only French region to border 4 countries, it covers 10 départements with distinct identities. This diversity has given rise to a large historical, natural and cultural heritage, as well as culinary specialities, wines and traditions. Art, know-how and resources complete this attractive picture. The former Champagne-Ardenne region forms a physical link with the Parisian region and a cultural link with the former Alsace-Lorraine territories. More than 1,000 years of conflict trace the tumultuous history of these long disputed lands. A rich historical heritage and numerous stigmata bear witness to this thousand-year-old tug-of-war. The contrast between Latin and Germanic traditions also offers an architectural and cultural palette that is unique in France. A true crossroads between France and Europe, Grand Est is divided into 4 major city systems: the regional network of Charleville-Mézières, the metropolis of Reims, the duopoly of Nancy/Metz and the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg. Some are interconnected with the border regions of Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Germany. Crossed by the Seine and the Meuse rivers, other than numerous streams, the contrasting landscapes are striking. Plains, fields and vineyards compete with mountain ranges, lakes and lush forests.
Grand Est is definitely a region to discover
What to visit during your weekend in Grand Est?
The Ardennes beer route
Toul and its citadel
Moselle and its history
Where to sleep in Grand Est?
With their authentic welcome and typical charm, Teritoria’s selection of hotels and guest houses is the gateway to your stay in the Grand Est region.
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Aux Armes de Champagne
31 avenue du Luxembourg L’EPINE 51460
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Le Maréchal
4-6, place des Six-Montagnes-Noires, La Petite Venise – COLMAR 68000
Culinary specialties of Grand Est
Gilles Leininger and his recipe books
By Laurence Gounel
Awarded a Michelin star in 2021, this Alsatian chef reopened a restaurant in his home village 14 years ago, creating eight tables to welcome guests as if they were at home. On the dinner plate, a unique menu that is the result of an evolution recorded in notebooks of all kinds since his apprenticeship.
Gilles Leininger is 41 years old and has been cooking since he was 14. His recipe books are an integral part of his career and are a bit like a professional diary. For someone who values transmission as one of his key values, making these written collections available guarantees consistency and means sharing much more than just weight measurements, cooking times, etc
“Unlike a recipe typed on a computer, they are full of sketches, tips, personal reflections, and some recipes developed for competitions have remained unfinished or deserve to be explored further, which also makes all these collections tools in the making. I sometimes take the best of certain recipes and reinterpret them using my current methods and vision. It is an inexhaustible source of inspiration without compromising my desire to offer cuisine with identity,” says the man who prides himself on technique and great precision in his cooking and baking.
Jérôme Jaegle, in full maturity
By Laurence Gounel
Mature at 44, the Alsatian chef displays a quiet strength, anchored in the land where he grew up and whose values are reflected in his cuisine, which is full of emotions and
memories. Intuitive and in constant conversation with nature, this humanist chef is quietly continuing his ascent. By opening Alchémille in his native region, this native of Kaysersberg has made a vow to return to his roots and uphold the values that he has since passed on to his children: the strength of a terroir, of the land and of the elders. While the plains, mountains, vineyards and the Rhine provide him with a fabulous playground, maturity offers him the freedom to “settle” for the things he holds dear.
“By rediscovering everything I love here – fish and wild foraging, game from the forests – I realize that I have never cooked in such an uninhibited way. I no longer want to be demonstrative. My cooking is clear, straightforward, and reflects my emotions, my sensitivity to the Alsatian terroir.”
Local producers from Grand Est, in partnership with Pour de Bon
Maison Boulanger
Nemrod
La Ferme des Prun’elles
Where to eat in Grand Est?
Teritoria’s restaurants, which make the most of local produce and ancestral know-how, are sure to make your trip to the Grand Est a gourmet one… Terroir and local wines are one the meny of the day!
Teritoria celebrates its 50 years
On the occasion of its 50th anniversary,
our community invites its travelers
to discover new territories & win 50 getaways.
What not to miss in
Grand Est?
What to do in Grand Est?
Cultural activities
1. Château de Malbrouck
In the heart of the 3 borders region in North Moselle, get ready for total immersion. Perched on its promontory and lined with footpaths, Malbrouck castle dominates a vast green valley. Here, no less than 5 centuries of history await you.
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / clemMtravel
2. Mines de Varangéville
During your stay in the Grand Est region, don’t miss this unusual opportunity to discover the white gold that lies beneath Lorraine’s surface. 160 metres underground, the Varangéville mines offer you a grandiose visit beneath a 90-metre-thick layer of salt formed 230 million years ago.
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / Lucille Cottin
3. The medieval town of Mouzon
Step back in time as you stroll through the medieval streets of Mouzon. Bordering Luxembourg, this Ardennes’ gem, with its “petites cités de caractère®” label, will guide you through the centuries. The abbey church, fortifications and dovecote nestle in the heart of an incomparable panorama drawn by the Meuse.
Photo credits:
4. Jardin botanique Jean-Marie Pelt de Villers-lès-Nancy
In the Grand Est region, flora and fauna are a key concern. The botanical garden in Nancy, one of the largest in France and also a bird sanctuary, is dedicated to preserving and safeguarding endangered species and raising awareness. No fewer than 12,000 species can be found in this enchanting setting.
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / Alexandre Prevot
Unusual activities
1. Brew your own beer at Réguisheim
How about making your own beer? During one of the workshops at the comptoir du brasseur, choose your recipe, your regional malt, listen to advice and carry out the brewing stages. After bottling and labelling, your 20-litre batch of beer is ready. All that’s left to do is enjoy!
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / ALPA PROD
2. Explore the underground citadel of Verdun
If you’re looking for unusual activities in Grand Est, get ready for an immersive experience! Equipped with an augmented reality helmet, your senses will be heightened. You’ll become Jean Riviere, soldier class 1913, and will be propelled back to 1916, at 8 degrees, into the heart of the underground galleries of the citadel…
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / Paddo47
3. Become a cheesemaker in Haute-Marne
The unusual activities available in Grand Est are as numerous as they are varied. So, if you’re keen to try your hand at farming, make the most of your stay and discover the goat farm at Riaucourt. Put your hairnet on your head, you’ll learn how to make your own cheese and leave with the fruits of your labour.
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / RossHelen
4. Escape to the Colorado of the Pays de Bitche
Make your trip to Grand Est a memorable one by exploring this exceptional site nestling in the heart of the Vosges du Nord Regional Nature Park. For over 225 million years, erosion has sculpted vast cliffs of
pink granite. Cavities, caves and alveoli follow one another in a setting worth the finest westerns.
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / quentin debote
5. Become a caretaker at the Sainte Croix animal park in Rhodes
Enjoy a unique animal experience! The Rhodes nature reserve raises awareness on biodiversity and preserves Europe’s fauna, with 130 protected species, some of which have been reintroduced into their natural habitat. For a few hours, become the caretaker of black bears, raccoons or red pandas.
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / MNStudio
Sports activities
1. Kayak down the Blies or the Sarre
If you choose to make your trip to Grand Est a sporting one, head for Sarreguemines for a kayak trip down two emblematic Franco-German rivers. If you opt for a full day, you’ll enjoy the incredible experience of a long and picturesque descent.
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / AerialVision_it
2. Climbing in the Ballon des Vosges Regional Park
Whether you’re an experienced climber or not, Vertical Vosges offers routes to suit everyone. Whether you’re on a family outing or trying to win a serious challenge with friends, you’ll be taming the pink granite cliffs. For the more ambitious, the long route offers unrivalled views of Hohneck and Lac Blanc.
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / Vicky Gosselin
3. The Voie verte Sud-Ardennes by bike
Head for Pont-à-Bar to set off on the Voie verte Sud-Ardennes, a 110km route along the Canal des Ardennes linking the Meuse to the Paris Basin. From your towpath, you’ll be in the heart of nature, following the undulations of the landscape and observing the local wildlife.
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / Michal Szymanski
4. Hiking to the Saut de la Bourrique
For your stay in the Grand Est, combine a sporting activity with a feast for the eyes. From Gérardmer, set off on a 4-hour hike with the fabulous Saut de la Bourrique waterfall in your sights. Continue to the Mérelle tower and take in the breathtaking view over Lake Gérardmer.
Photo credits: © Shutterstock / cybos
Do you want to organize a meeting in Grand Est?
Looking for the perfect venue for your next corporate event? Teritoria will (free of charge) find the ideal venue for you, negotiated at the best price, according to your availability, within our community of hoteliers and restaurateurs!
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Hannong Hotel & Wine Bar
15 rue du 22 novembre – STRASBOURG 67000
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Aux Armes de Champagne
31 avenue du Luxembourg L’EPINE 51460
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Manoir Henri Giraud
83 Boulevard Charles de Gaulle – AY 51160
