Villegusien-Le-Lac offers different ways to enjoy a stay: at Lac de la Vingeanne, nature watching and water activities take centre stage; churches and Château de Piepape showcase different phases of construction. This allows you to explore the landscape and architectural history as distinct focal points.

At Lac de la Vingeanne: nature and water

A walking trail runs around Lac de la Vingeanne. Along the way, a birdwatching observatory offers opportunities to discover flora and birds. The circular trail and observation point let you enjoy both plant and birdwatching, without having to focus on just one of the two.

At high water, the lake covers 199 hectares. Its dam was built in 1906 and is the longest of the dams on the four lakes. These figures describe the area at a particular water level and a permanent feature of the structure.

There is a clear distinction between boats by type of propulsion: boats with combustion engines are prohibited throughout the lake, while boats with electric motors are permitted. If you would like to use a boat, check the applicable rules in advance.

Lac de la Vingeanne is a public waterway in the second fishing category. Its shoreline is 7.4 kilometres long, and its maximum depth is 9.70 metres. The category and fishing regulations are relevant to anglers; the shoreline length and depth, meanwhile, describe the dimensions of the waterway. As the rules may change, check the current regulations before fishing.

At the Base nautique de la Vingeanne, the “La Montagne” club offers E-Foil, Wing-Foil, canoeing, catamaran sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding. The range includes foil sports, paddling activities, sailing and windsurfing. If a particular sport is essential to your trip, check its current availability in advance.

Architectural history in Villegusien-le-Lac, Saint-Michel and Piépape

Château de Piepape is an 18th-century château and is partially protected as a historic monument. Its main construction phase dates to 1770. Both the period and the more precise date help put it into context; the protected status applies to parts of the château.

A reservation is required two days in advance for a 30-minute tour of the Château familial du XVIIIe siècle de Piépape. Check in advance whether visits are offered during your preferred season.

The Church of Saint-Denis in Villegusien-le-Lac brings together construction phases from two centuries: its choir dates from the 16th century, while the nave and bell tower date from the 18th century. The different parts of the building therefore have different dates; they cannot be attributed to a single period of construction.

In Piépape, the architectural history of the Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption goes back further. Its choir dates from the second half of the 12th century, and the former seigneurial chapel from the 13th century. The nave was rebuilt in the 18th century, and the portal tower dates from 1834. The cylindrical bell tower is 32 metres high and rare. Piépape’s “Vierge de Pitié” also has its own date: it dates from the first half of the 16th century.

In Saint-Michel, the Church of Saint-Michel houses an altarpiece typical of the Baroque period, dating from the second half of the 18th century. Together with the differently dated building elements in Piépape and Villegusien-le-Lac, it presents a nuanced picture of architectural history: the sights mentioned do not represent a single period, but several centuries.

Discover more destinations: Montsaugeon, Doulaincourt-Saucourt, Doulevant-le-Château, Andelot-Blancheville, Maranville, Nogent, Ecot-La-Combe, Fayl-Billot.

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Marne.