An enhanced towpath along the Canal de Wassy in Éclaron crosses a distinctive canal bridge; the commune’s churches and cultural heritage add their own historical touch. Together with trails through the forest and along the dam, as well as swimming spots on Lac du Der, Éclaron-Braucourt-Sainte-Livière offers different themes to consider when planning your trip: religious architecture, nature or time by the water.
Churches, cultural heritage and remembrance
The Église Saint-Laurent d'Éclaron is an example of Flamboyant Gothic architecture. It was built at the end of the 15th century or the beginning of the 16th century. At the entrance to the choir is a 17th-century Christ, supported by a remarkable chancel beam structure. In Braucourt, the nave and west façade with its wooden gallery of the church have been protected as historic monuments under a decree dated 9 July 1909.
Individual cultural treasures also tell stories of different eras. The bell of the Église Sainte-Libaire was cast and baptized in 1579; it is considered one of the oldest bells in the region. The Église Sainte-Libère houses a carved polychrome wooden statue known as Sainte Livière. It has been protected as a movable cultural heritage object since 26 May 2000.
A cross on the Route d'Ambrières commemorates twelve airmen and bears two propeller blades from an aircraft. The church of Champaubert on the shore of Lac du Der offers a different perspective: it welcomes visitors who want to discover its history and hosts artists’ residencies every year. If you are interested in an event of this kind, check the specific dates before your visit.
Trails and nature at Lac du Der
When choosing a trail, the specific differences in their routes are useful to know. The Le Vieux Der route starts at the washhouse in Sainte-Livière and leads through the forest and along a dam. In Éclaron, the towpath along the Canal de Wassy has been upgraded and incorporated into a discovery trail. Its distinctive feature is a characteristic canal bridge from the era of metal canal bridges. This puts a trail with forest and dam sections and a discovery trail focused on canal history at the heart of two different themes.
The natural setting also provides a clear point of reference when choosing where to go: Éclaron-Braucourt-Sainte-Livière is one of the communes in the Lac du Der Natura 2000 site. This site covers 6,536 hectares. This figure refers to the protected area, not to an individual trail. If you would like to combine cultural sites with a nature-themed visit, you can take this into account in your plans.
Swimming spots and rides with ROUL’ÔDER
The Plage des Sources du Lac and the Plage de la Cornée du Der are open year-round. At both swimming spots, lifeguard supervision is scheduled from 1 July to 31 August, from 1:10 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. If supervised swimming hours are important to you, check the stated times before your visit.
Another activity on offer is rides with ROUL’ÔDER’s electric SWINCAR e-spiders, either solo or as a pair. ROUL’ÔDER is suitable for people with limited mobility and has controls on the steering wheel.
Discover more destinations: Leurville, Rouelles, Joinville, Daillancourt, Bourbonne-Les-Bains, Goncourt, Culmont, Montier-En-Der
For the wider travel overview: Haute-Marne.
