Lac de la Madine, Lorraine, France

Located at the foot of the Côtes de Meuse and right in the middle of the Lorraine regional nature reserve, the Madine lake is a beautiful 11,000-hectare stretch of water, 250 hectares of forest and 42 kilometres of banks and shores.

Just two hours away from Luxembourg City by car, this region is the perfect location for a relaxing weekend getaway. Get ready to discover rural France with small villages and picturesque landscapes, with organic food and local wine and better, make sure that you try ”l’eau de vie de mirabelle”, the traditional brandy made of the mirabelle plum, a very representative fruit for the region.

If you are into birdwatching, the Madine lake offers you the chance to discover many species, especially in the two migration seasons.

While it was already November, the weather was very nice, which is why we chose to go for a walk and explore the surroundings. After a long stroll by the lake, we were lucky to witness a beautiful sunset.

I strongly recommend you to visit this area, which also abounds in history. Lorraine’s Meuse department incorporates the town of Verdun, where many World War I battles took place. In fact, a few kilometers away from the Madine river, lies on the Montsec hill ”La Butte de Montsec”, an American monument overlooking the lake, aimed at honouring the American soldiers who fought on the Western Front in 1917 and 1918.

You can find a lot of information on the region and the lake here.