Moselle. Kayaking in Yutz: a sporty discovery on the water

What if you took advantage of the summer to innovate? With the Yutz Kayak Club, free introductory sessions are available until August 10th. We boarded a canoe bus. Children and adults paddled 5.5 km, despite the rain. A sporty and heritage-filled trip.

Until August 10, you can try canoeing and kayaking with the Yutz club on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Photo Philippe Neu — Until August 10, you can try canoeing and kayaking with the Yutz club on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Photo: Philippe Neu

9 a.m. in Yutz. Jean, the president of the kayak club, is waiting for the young people registered with Moselle Jeunesse. It's only 15 degrees, and it's drizzling. "In the water, we can hope to reach 20°C," he smiles. The children arrive. Little ones, teenagers. A few parents who agree to jump in the water. "We'll take the canoe bus and a kayak; it'll be more fun, especially if it starts to rain heavily." Jean-Loup, the club captain, is definitely there. The first step is to get the canoe and launch it. "It's pretty heavy. We also have a 250-kg dragon boat." Then those who want to put on a wetsuit; everyone else will have a life jacket and paddle.

Madeleine, a history teacher, traveled back in time along the water, telling stories about the fortifications visible. Photo: Philippe Neu

We set off for a 5.5 km trip along the water. That morning, Madeleine, a history teacher in Nancy and a group leader, was there. It was an opportunity to learn more about the history of the fortifications between Thionville and Yutz. "Do you know about lock bridges? Do you know what they were used for?" Along the water, young and old alike were amazed and traveled back in time, from the Second Empire under Napoleon III to the First World War. Everyone was showered by the sky and the Moselle. "Look, there are lots of fish. Listen, we can hear a black kite," Jean invites. "Do you see that stone with the date 1735?" Incredible. Everything resurfaces, even the bullet holes still visible on some walls. Have you heard of heritage kayaking? Certainly not, but even the young people, frozen after their swim near Bird Island, pricked up their ears and immersed themselves in the history of France, the Spanish and then German occupation, thanks to Madeleine and Jean, who is a maths teacher but an expert on this wild, canalized Moselle between Thionville and Basse-Ham.

The morning's program covered 5.5 km. Photo: Philippe Neu

The club welcomes 150 children during the summer as part of Moselle jeunesse and "last year, we saw 1,020 curious people flock to Yutz beach ." If you want to paddle, take in the sights and go back in time, don't hesitate, the club awaits you on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for a free discovery session. On August 1st and 8th, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., dragonboat and canobus excursions will be available. To try! Tim and his dad loved the experience. So did we, despite the wet weather.