Lorraine

The present-day region of Lorraine, with its capital Nancy, lies in eastern France in the valleys of the upper Meuse and the Moselle, bounded on the west by Champagne and on the east by the Vosges and extending northward to the Ardennes and southward to the Langres plateau. It consists of the départements of Meurthe-et-Moselle (chief town Nancy), Moselle (Metz), Meuse (Bar-le-Duc) and Vosges (Epinal) - though the eastern part of the Vosges département is in Alsace. Outside the larger towns and industrial areas Lorraine has preserved its natural beauty almost unspoiled, with the steeply scarped forest-covered hills of the Vosges, its beautiful upland regions, its quiet mountain lakes and attractive holiday resorts. The spas along the fringes of the Vosges have a long tradition behind them, and, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, such resorts as Bains-les-Bains, Plombières, Vittel and Contrexéville were frequented by the fashionable world of Europe.

The population of Lorraine goes back to Celtic and Frankish origins, mixed with Alemannic (Germanic) blood. The region preserves some remains of German language and culture.

The treaty of Verdun in 843 brought about a division of the Frankish empire between the sons of Louis the Pious. Under the treaty the western part of the empire fell to Charles the Bald, the middle section to Lothair and the eastern part to Louis (Ludwig) the German. In 855 the central part was again divided, when Lothair I handed over his domains to his sons, Louis, Charles and Lothair II. The last named called his territory "Lotharii Regnum", from which the name Lorraine is derived. In 870, however, Lorraine also passed to Ludwig. In 959 the duchies of Upper and Lower Lorraine (Lotharingia) were created, the latter, with its capital at Nancy, becoming known as Lorraine tout court. In 1552 France acquired the towns of Metz, Toul and Verdun, and in 1776 the Duchy of Lorraine also became French. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 a large part of Lorraine, mainly German-speaking, including in particular Metz and the surrounding area, was incorporated in the newly established German Empire, becoming part of the province of Alsace- Lorraine. After the First World War it returned to France, and has since then remained French except for a brief interruption in 1940-1944.

In addition to its productive agriculture and forestry Lorraine possesses minerals (coal, iron ore) which are important to its industries. A variety of causes (quality of raw materials, competition from cheaper and better foreign products) led to economic stagnation in the region, particularly in heavy industry, and since the early 1960s special efforts have been made to promote development in Lorraine.

Another important sector is the textile industry, which was brought into Lorraine from Alsace.

Lorraine's rivers and lakes offer facilities for a variety of water sports (diving, sailing, fishing, etc.).

There are golf-courses at Nancy, Combles (near Bar-le-Duc), Vittel and Metz.

There is plenty of scope for walkers and cyclists, as well as for nature-lovers, in the Vosges Regional Park (area 185,000 hectares/457,000 acres). There is also a considerable network of waymarked footpaths and trails.