Thionville is located in the northeastern corner of France, close to the border with Luxembourg. The city was a major industrial centre in the 18th and 19th centuries, and was once dubbed the Metropole de Fer, referring to its large steel plant. The city's geographical location has meant that it has seen many conflicts over the centuries, from the Thirty Years War, to German occupation during the Second World War.
There are a number of sights and historical monuments in Thionville. The Musée de la Tour aux Puces, is a state-run archeological museum that holds a permanent collection of artifacts, from prehistoric times up to the Renaissance. L'Autel de la Patrie was constructed during the French Revolution. The tall obelisk commemorates the revolution and its heroes. The fairy-tale Château de Volkrange was built in the 13th century and features tall, rounded tower and a shaded fountain. Other important historic buildings in the city include the 17th century Mairie de Thionville, with its grand façade, and 14th century belfry, which served as a prison for the bourgeoisie during the French Revolution.
The Moselle river runs through the city, and across the river from Thionville is Yutz, a jewish commune. The river itself has been a source of commerce and travel over the ages, and now visitors can tour the town on bicycles or walk along the river banks, to get a feel for the city's culture. The Ponts-Ecluses, which spans the river, was built in the 18th century to protect the city's canals from flooding.
The city's tourism office offers a number of interesting and informative tours, including a visit to the local Schnapps factory, with a tasting session at the end, as well as tours of a number of historic buildings, such as the Eglise St-Maximin and the Château de la Grange. Visit the underground tunnels of the Fort du Hackenberg at Vekring, to see the first of the many ramparts, which were constructed along the Maginot line.
