Hardly anyone comes to AMNÉVILLE to visit the town itself. A former industrial centre it offers little in the way of attractions. However, just 3km south of the town in the Coulange forest are a host of things to see and visit, in a leisure park complex, including Termapolis (Mon–Wed 10am–10pm, Thurs 9am–10pm, Fri & Sat 10am–midnight, Sun 9am–8pm; closed Sept, Christmas and New Year; €9 for two hours), where you can soak away pains or just relax in a series of pools fed by a ferruginous spring; kitsch decor adorns the saunas, hammams and rest areas. There's also a zoo, an aquarium and all kinds of other curiosities, plus a multiplex cinema. For more information about all tourist attractions contact the tourist office (tel 03.87.70.10.40, www.amneville.com).Of all the attractions in the complex, the top of most people's list, though, is the Musée de la Moto et du Vélo (May–Sept Sat–Thurs 9am–7pm, Fri 9am–10pm; Oct–April Tues, Thurs & Fri 2–6pm, Wed, Sat & Sun 9am–noon & 2–6pm; €5). Monsieur Chapleur started collecting bikes and motorbikes in the 1930s when he was a mechanic at Citroën, and the museum has over 200 models of different origins on display, all overhauled and in working order. And they are beauties – works of art in copper, brass, chrome and steel, with some of the bicycles dating back to 1865, and the motorbikes being mostly from 1900 to 1940. One unique object is a 1906 René Gillet 4.5hp belt-driven tandem. If you need a place to stay, the Hôtel Orion (tel 03.87.70.20.20, [email protected]; €40–55) in the leisure park itself, is modern and comfortable. The best place to eat is the Forêt, also located in the leisure park (tel 03.87.70.34.34), which has traditional menus from €23.
Pages in section ‘Amneville’: Surroundings.
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