PvB/PNRFO <p>Découvrez le territoire des Lacs et du Parc naturel régional de la Forêt d'Orient, pour vos vacances ou un weekend, avec des hébergements à taille humaine.<br /> Pour vous : 3 lacs (Orient, Temple, Amance), près du Lac du Der, ports de plaisance, loisirs nautiques, voile, kite-surf, motonautisme, ski nautique, jet-ski, pêche, baignade.<br /> Un cadre naturel exceptionnel : forets profondes, étangs, randonnée à pied, à cheval, en vélo.<br /> Plus de 265 especes d'oiseaux, migration des grues, cygogne noire, observatoires.<br /> Une terre d'histoire, voies romaines, Templiers, sculpture Renaissance, musée Napoléon, ecomusée.<br />...</p> Pascal Bourguignon / PNRFO <p>Le Balcon du Parc est une route touristique permettant de découvrir le Parc naturel régional de la Forêt d'Orient.</p> Gary Rodgers <p>Coucher de soleil sur le Lac d'Orient.<br /> En mémoire d'Alan Oswald Rodgers, Néo-Zélandais, pilote de Lancaster (1923-1944).</p> Anne villaumé / PNRFO <p>Pour la construction du nouvel observatoire du Lac du Temple, une technique respectueuse de l'environnement a été utilisé, le débardage.</p> Peter van Bussel / PNRFO <p>200 étangs au moyen-âge, aujourd'hui près de 70. Tous privés, certains sont accessibles en restant sur les chemins de randonnée.</p> PNRFO <p>Ici une Caloptéryx Vierge. Après l'accouplement, la femelle pond ses oeufs dans l'eau. Les larves muent plusieurs fois avant de sortir au grand air pour devenir des libellules... </p> Ludovic Thiérard <p> Pont donnant accès à l'entrée par la grille d'honneur du Château de Brienne</p> Ange Franquin <p>Port de plaisance de Mesnil Saint-Père. Lac d'Orient.</p> PvB/PNRFO <p>Au point de vue du Croît, une table d'orientation avec des vues imprenables sur la Champagne humide, avec ses lacs, forêts et champs.</p> Ange Franquin <p>Le lac d'Orient: loin du bruit des moteurs...vive la voile sur toutes ses formes.</p> Peter van Bussel / PNRFO <p>Les lacs du PNR de la Forêt d'Orient atteignent des niveaux différents dans l'année, il n'est donc pas rare de croiser des arbres immergés sur les berges.</p> Pascal Bourguignon / PNRFO <p>Grands Lacs, forêts majestueuses, étangs, rivières, faune sauvage, prés et champs, grandes cultures, vignoble, plateaux et rivières, architecture à pans de bois, …</p>

A Land of history

To understand the territory and its inhabitants better, here is a brief summary of the key periods in its history :

- On the border between the two Gallic tribes,the Lingons and Tricasses, the territory of the Park had an important Roman colonization from the village of Brienne-la-Vielle, a port on the river Aube crossed by the Roman strategic way from Milan to Boulogne called the Agrippan Way.
(see the: column of " Taranis " in the church of Brienne la vielle.)

- From the C9th, religious establishments installed in the Park, cleared the forest and created the first ponds.

- One of the cradles of the crusades, the territory gave birth to the knight and historian Geoffrey de Villehardouin. Upon their return from the Holy Land, the Templars (in Forêt du Temple),the Knights Hospitaler and Teutonic Knights settled on the territory.

- Ravaged during the Hundred Years War during the fight between the Duke of Burgundy and Louis XI, the territory was born again at the beginning of the Renaissance, the churches were restored or rebuilt and decorated with the famous stained glass windows and statues from the Troyes schools of artists. ( see the: interior of the church of Géraudot).

- The Dukes of Luxembourg in exile in the territory of the Park created a virtual Duchy of Luxembourg in Piney, whose size was practically the same as the territory of the present Park. The last duke, fled during the revolution after having founded the French Masonic order of the Grand Orient de France ( Therefore giving its name to the forest)

- The C19th saw the extension of industries linked to the land, among others, the famous statue-making factory of Saint Sulpiciennes, in Vendeuvre, where its products are found in churches throughout France.

-Finally, the second half of the C20th saw the creation of the large reservoirs (1967-1990), soon followed by the classification of the territory as a regional natural Park (1970).

 

For further information, click on the links below



Roman Roads - 2000 years at your service

The Roman roads : 2000 years at your service The Roman roads, at the service of the army  The Park is surrounded by a natural border formed by the raised remains of the Roman roads. Traced by the military authorities to control Gaul that had been conquered and for the invasion of Britain and Germany. They were raised so that the...

Exil of the Luxembourg Duchy

Exil of the Luxembourg Duchy Who was Luxembourg ? During the reign of Louis XIV, Saint - Simon wrote: " Upon my return from la Trappe, (...), I came across an affair that made a great deal of noise and that for me has many consequences". M. de Luxembourg, proud of his successes and the world's applause for his victories,...

Religious and military Institutions in Foret d'Orient

Religious and military institutions in the Middle age in Forêt d'Orient The forest : source of the religious life In order to know the heritage better, have a look around in the churches and abbeys located all around the Nature Park. eg : Cloister in Basse-Fontaine Abbey (forest in Brienne-le-Vieille)   Orders An abbey...

Renaissance in Champagne

The Renaissance The Duke of Burgundy ravaged southern Champagne In 1477, the terrifying Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, Grand Duke of the west, died at the foot of the walls of Nancy and his body was devoured by wolves. Before this, he had invaded Champagne and the king of France attacked by the south of the present department of the...

"The Champagne Miracle"

The "Champagne Miracle " An exquisite moment Those men of the years 1480-1560,have left such sensitive traces that our eyes and maybe our hearts can still decipher them without too much difficulty. If for a long time the inhabitants of Champagne considered themselves French, the Champagne of the C16th had its special...

Napoleon in the park territory

Napoleon on the territory Fall of the Eagle March 29, 1814,the emperor Napoleon walked thoughtfully on the bridge at Dolancourt, he had learnt that the allied army was at the gates of Paris. He decided to march on the Capital. Too late! Paris capitulated the following day. The dice was thrown, he had to abdicate. So ended the French...