The Bettling and Viennoise breweries merged in 1896 to form the Grandes Brasseries Réunies de Maxéville. Some buildings in the Brasseries district still bear witness to the city’s industrial past. This makes it possible to connect the story of the founding with surviving architectural evidence.
Industrial history and a themed trail
A description published on 27 March 2026 introduces the “Sur les pas des carriers de Maxéville” trail. The information boards mentioned there cover the work of Solvay’s workers, their machinery and lives, as well as TP Max. The trail is therefore one way to explore Maxéville’s industrial history through specific themes and working lives.
The trail climbs 140 metres in elevation and leads to a summit with sweeping views over the metropolitan area. The elevation gain and viewpoint add another dimension to the tour alongside its historical theme. If you plan your day around it, take the climb into account; no walking time is specified.
Château Bas and Saint Martin Church
Château Bas, now Maxéville’s town hall, contains a staircase by Jean Lamour. Saint Martin Church houses a Gothic Madonna and Child with a crescent moon, dating from 1347. The two sites offer different ways into art history: in one case, an artist is associated with an architectural feature; in the other, the period and creation date of the artwork are given.
These details place different emphasis on periods and artistic aspects. The Madonna can be clearly dated to the 14th century; for the staircase, the focus is its association with Jean Lamour. Anyone interested in regional architectural and art history can consider the two subjects separately, rather than combining them into a single period.
The Strawberry Festival throughout the year
Every year, the town of Maxéville holds the Fête des Fraises strawberry festival together with local associations. Dates and the programme vary from year to year.
Parc forestier and the local landscape
In Parc forestier, nature is managed in a way that allows the vegetation to develop freely. Paths wind between the trees to large clearings. This offers a different focus from the culturally oriented trail: here, woodland vegetation and open spaces take centre stage. Maintenance work or seasonal conditions may affect the paths; check current trail conditions before planning a walk.
The Canal de la Marne au Rhin and an SNCF railway line also run through Maxéville. They add further geographical features to the town alongside its historic buildings and Parc forestier.
If your travel dates fall around the festival, take its changing dates and programme each year into account when planning.
Discover more destinations: Val-Et-Châtillon, Goviller, Badonviller, Moncel-Lès-Lunéville, Jarny, Longwy, Bréhain-La-Ville, Joppécourt.
For the broader travel overview: Meurthe-Et-Moselle.
