The Helpe majeure and the stream of Montbliart converge at Eppe-Sauvage; together with other small streams, they feed the artificial Lake ValJoly. The lake covers 180 hectares. This combination of flowing waters and a lake gives the landscape a distinctive character that can be described in geographical terms.
Forest, bocage and natural area
Eppe-Sauvage is located in the Parc Naturel Régional de l’Avesnois and has 295 hectares of communal deciduous woodland, with oaks, beech trees and hornbeams. Bocage refers to a landscape divided by hedgerows and fields; in Eppe-Sauvage, it borders the forest. This places forest and bocage side by side as directly neighbouring landscape features. The tree species give the deciduous woodland its own character, while the bocage describes its landscape setting.
Another natural area is the 140-hectare Bois de Nostrimont in Eppe-Sauvage. It includes a bird protection zone and has a remarkable floral heritage. This gives it a different focus from the communal deciduous woodland: at Bois de Nostrimont, bird conservation and plant life take centre stage, while the communal forest is defined by its area, deciduous tree species and neighbouring bocage landscape. Comparing the two offers a choice of distinct points of reference for exploring nature.
Église Saint-Ursmar and religious heritage
Église Saint-Ursmar is a cultural monument with a clearly established date. Its main construction phases date back to the 16th and 17th centuries; by decree of 14 April 1947, it was listed as a historic monument. The construction period and the date of heritage protection therefore refer to two different periods in its history.
Religious heritage extends beyond the church. Eppe-Sauvage has 19 religious buildings: one church, eleven oratories, four chapels, one calvary, and two grottoes and statues. The number 19 refers to the entire collection, not to 19 churches. The church is thus part of a broader range of religious buildings and forms. Oratories are small places of prayer; chapels are smaller sacred buildings. A calvary represents the Passion of Christ; grottoes and statues complete the list as other religious forms.
Mountain bike circuits starting from ValJoly
Six mountain bike circuits start at the ValJoly resort. La Transylvestre is a difficult 20-kilometre mountain bike circuit starting from the resort. The number six describes the circuits at the starting point; La Transylvestre’s distance and difficulty provide additional guidance when choosing a route. Route details may change.
Learn to sail
The Maison des Sports et de la Nature by the lake has catamarans, windsurfing boards, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. It is open year-round to people who want to learn to sail or improve their skills. When planning, check the latest route details and information about the activities, as both may change.
Discover more destinations: Petite-Forêt, Salomé, Cambrai, La Gorgue, Gravelines, La Madeleine, Méteren, Aulnoye-Aymeries.
View the broader travel guide: Nord.
