The industrial yet historic town of Thionville is situated in the border country between France, Luxembourg and Germany in the Mosel River Valley with its famous vineyards. Now in the Moselle district of Lorraine, the town has changed hands between Germany and France several times during its thousand-year history.

Cheap car hire in Thionville will make trips to the various military sites in the area easy and comfortable. Within the town itself are several sites of interest, both historic and more modern. The Maginot line ran through the town, with its Hackenburg Fortress, ultra-modern in its time. Its 10th century equivalent, a stone tower, has sinister dungeons.

The historic moated Chateau de Volkrange and the 18th century Church of St Maximin with its twin towers are well worth a visit. Another great fortress, the Moselstellung, was built by the Germans in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War as part of a line of fortresses stretching from Switzerland to the coast.

Shopping is no problem in Thionville, with everything from department stores to quality shops and boutiques in the city centre’s pedestrianised precinct. Restaurants feature the cuisine of Lorraine, focused around stews of smoked meat, sausages, potatoes and other vegetables, with pates and the delicious Moselle wines produced locally.

Car rental in Thionville is easy, and allows travel to many attractions in the region. One favourite is the medieval village of Rodemack, still with its enclosing walls and fortified gate. Driving the Route de Vin Moselle and visiting the vineyards with make you glad that you arranged car hire in Thionville.