Thionville. The old barge Le Lotus clings to the shore
Its hull is rusty, eaten away by the surrounding greenery. The old barge Le Lotus floats like a ghost ship on the banks of the Moselle, in Thionville, a stone's throw from the Passerelle de l'Europe on the right bank. The place seems abandoned; a thick, padlocked chain closes one of the entrances. A construction lamp is lit outside, in broad daylight, but no one answers. The old nightclub, which burned down nearly twenty years ago, has clearly lost its appeal.
The Lotus appears to be abandoned. Its owner claims otherwise. Photo by Frédérique Thisse
As the summer season approaches, the dilapidated barge is resurfacing. Its fate was recently discussed at a city council meeting where the "Rive et cœur de ville en fête" events were discussed, organized from June 22 to August 31, 2025, "for the 17th consecutive edition." This year, there are no changes to report. Projects are in the pipeline for 2026. "It will depend on the elections, on whoever takes my place," predicts Mayor Pierre Cuny.
The opposition communist elected official, Philippe Noller, is already floating the idea of a swimming pool barge on the banks , "like in Paris, it's magnificent!" Beyond the cost of the operation, the mayor is uneasy: "I'm not sure that Voies Navigables de France would have accepted, because it's a busy road." It was at this point that Le Lotus (re)in the news. "I'm asking my services to review this barge business, which absolutely must be dismantled. We must get rid of this wart," the mayor says. Except that, in reality, it's not that simple.
The barge, a former nightclub, is no longer up to standard, as evidenced by these patched-up ducts. Photo by Frédérique Thisse
The hull of the barge is concreted. The boat, parked in Thionville since the 1980s, won't move so easily . Especially since its owner is clinging to it.
He is in dispute with VNF. When contacted, Voies Navigables de France did not provide details. The national operator mentioned that the owner of the Lotus is the subject of legal proceedings "due to non-compliance with the regulations applicable to boat navigation, on the one hand, and to parking on public property, on the other." A judgment reportedly ordered the dismantling of the barge. But the owner of the premises has appealed. "I continue to maintain that these are permanent commercial premises open to the public and are subject to land law."
Mickaël Hadoui, 61, assures us that he has been working on a renovation project since 2015. "The investors are here to transform the barge into a yacht and organize events, in accordance with current regulations and standards. Something classy," he promises. It doesn't look like it, but he's reportedly doing some painting inside.
A priori, Voies Navigables de France is unaware of this: "No business plan has been initiated for several years, despite numerous discussions between the owner and the various public authorities concerned. The boat does not, to date, fit into the ambitions for river and fluvial development in the region." More in the next episode.
"The mayor wants the place"
The barge owner presumes that the location where Le Lotus is moored is sought after, a stone's throw from the footbridge that connects the right bank to the city center. The advantage, in terms of tourism, attractiveness, and mobility, is undeniable. It would be a good idea to consider a shuttle between Basse-Ham and Thionville station. A docking place would be needed, and this location would be very interesting. ", noted the mayor, Pierre Cuny, at the municipal council meeting at the end of April.
Le Républicain Lorrain
