As a child, when we talked about the Vosges, it only brought to mind the “blue line of the Vosges” we learned about in history class. Later, as a young second lieutenant, I found myself stationed in Épinal, running exercises around Gérardmer… and all over France, testing equipment and playing at war — and I hated the Vosges.
Until 2002, when a group of us headed out to fish the French Championship stretches along the Moselotte, the Moselle, and the Vologne… (we even stopped along the way to fish for grayling in the Breuchin) — a true adventure where happiness, friendship, and good food were the guiding threads! I had made my peace — and fallen in love with the Vosges!
So here’s a little film to give you the idea of going there!
Go ahead, it’s Serge Dumont who takes you along the Moselle! And you’ll be able to sing “Sur les bords d’la Moselle, j’avais un amour, elle me f’sait des quenelles, des patates au four” — “On the banks of the Moselle, I had a love, she’d make me quenelles and jacket potatoes”!
Hit Square bottom right of YouTube screen for subtitles/cranked wheel = autotranslate -> English