Moncel-Lès-Lunéville: Forest, Water and Heritage

Moncel-Lès-Lunéville lies between the Meurthe and the Forêt domaniale de Mondon. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can plan around the topics that interest you: forest trails and ponds, or the history of the area. The landscape and range of activities offer practical starting points.

Forest and Water to Help Plan Your Trip

The Forêt domaniale de Mondon offers numerous flat paths along wide trails. The paths near the Grand Étang are an exception. Tables and benches are available at the Étang Communal. You can reach the pond via the N59 towards Saint-Dié, taking the “Sablière” exit, or via the path behind the Zone de l’Ecosseuse along the Meurthe.

Choose Routes and Activities

The Parcours de santé follows paths in the Forêt de Mondon and includes 20 stations. It starts in the forest and takes about 40 minutes. The Parcours d’orientation à Mondon offers three difficulty levels: green for beginners, blue for intermediate participants and yellow for experts. The options therefore differ in their stated duration and designated difficulty.

For cyclists, the Circuit vélo boucle de Mondon starts in the Forêt de Mondon in Moncel-Lès-Lunéville and follows an approximately 10-kilometre loop. It is suitable for mountain bikes and trekking bikes and is considered a family-friendly cycling route. Signposts along the loop direct cyclists to the Grand Étang. This gives you different reference points for planning: an approximate duration for the Parcours de santé and an approximate distance for the cycling route.

The Étangs fédéraux René Boury consist of one large pond covering 11.5 hectares and a smaller one covering 3.5 hectares. They are open to fishing by members of an AAPPMA in Meurthe-et-Moselle or an AAPPMA affiliated with the URNE. This membership requirement is a factor in choosing this fishing spot.

Local History and Architecture

The Abbaye de Beaupré was founded in 1135 for reformed Bernardine monks of the Cistercian Order. La petite Pologne stands on the site of the former abbey. The building was originally constructed as a maison de plaisance, that is, a country retreat and residence. Its Palladian-inspired layout comprises a residence, sheepfold and stable. Nicolas-François Mathieu purchased materials from the convent buildings, which were destroyed in the fire of 1796.

La petite Pologne is privately owned and has been partially protected as a Monument historique since October 9, 2024. The owner does not allow access to the grounds of Beaupré; a barrier blocks the access road. The area’s building and local history can also be traced through other sites: a former church was rebuilt around 1700 after its destruction during the Thirty Years’ War. The Église de Moncel-Lès-Lunéville was built in 1837 and is dedicated to Saint Martin.

A monument to the 314e Régiment de la 79e DI and the 749e bataillon de Chars Destroyer commemorates the crossing of the Meurthe from September 20 to 23, 1944. Les Wagons began as an industrial site in 1879 and was long associated with the manufacture of railway and automobile vehicles. Together, these places tell different chapters of local history.

Public Transport and Car Sharing

LUNEO operates two regular urban routes from Monday to Saturday, connecting Lunéville, Chanteheux, Moncel-Lès-Lunéville and Jolivet. Moncel-Lès-Lunéville also has an electric vehicle for car sharing through Voiture Lulu. When planning your stay, you can factor in this transport information alongside the forest, water and history themes.

Discover more destinations: Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy, Puxe, Bainville-aux-Miroirs, Favières, Choloy-Ménillot, Cerville, Jaulny, Fey-En-Haye.

For the broader travel overview: Meurthe-Et-Moselle.