Joinville

Several greenways crisscross the Der area: the loop around the lake (38km) runs along the dykes and provides visitors with beautiful views over the 4800 ha of water. The loop can be extended by several segments that link up to Saint-Dizier (12km), Montier-en-Der (12 km) and Vitry-le-François (20 km).

Promenade de la Dhuys - duration: 3h - marking white and green - easy level. Untamed but chanelled by man, the water draws us in to share its mysteries...

Des coteaux du champagne aux sources de la Dhuys "“ 58 km "“ mean level. To see during your trip: Soulaines-Dhuys, Bar-sur-Aube and its church, Champagne cellars, Colombé-le-Sec : a typical 4 flowery village

La Venise Verte - duration: 1h - marking: white and yellow - very esay level.

Promenade des Colombé - duration: 2h45 - easy level - marking: white and green. Champagne: the land steeped with history producing the results of man, pure ambroisia!

This trail, located in the high woods of the Western Vosges, leads to sensitive natural environments, to the remarkable flora and fauna. From the ancient Froide-Fontaine 12th century abbey to the limestone grassland of Villouxel, the smallest of the Western Vosges, you will discover historical and natural treasures. A beautiful walk not to be missed !

Mean level - To see during your tip: Timber-frame churches of Bailly-le-Franc, Lentilles - Panoramic view of the lake Amance and its Marina in Dienville - Potteries in Amance - Bar sur Seine: the tower of clock, the vestiges of the feodal chateau - The Tourist Route of Champagne.

In the heart of the forest of Sionne and of Frebécourt, there are 4 indomitable dwarf beeches. You will encounter these fantastic trees with their fairytale appearance, but also another equally strange phenomenon : the sinkhole. The images intermingle, in a few metres the landscape can change rapidly. Generous and verdant nature, meadows, where flows the Saônelle stream are part of the landcape.

Take to the skies during a hot air balloon flight over Reims and its surroundings!  You will enjoy an exceptional view of the Champagne region, taking in all of its distinct natural and architectural heritage. TAKE TO THE SKIES DURING A HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT OVER REIMS AND ITS SURROUNDINGS! You will enjoy an exceptional view of the Champagne region, taking in all of its distinct natural and architectural heritage. Upon your arrival, attend the inflation of the balloon before climbing into the basket and leaving Taissy behind for an escapade in the skies above Reims. Rising with the wind, you will fly over Reims at high altitude to gaze down on its renowned architectural heritage from the sky. You'll then be treated to spectacular views of the iconic vineyards and hillsides of Champagne as you fly over the Champagne Tourist Route or the Montagne de Reims Regional Nature Park. Once you return to solid ground, you’ll share a traditional balloonists toast to celebrate your adventure. A charming interlude in the airs of Reims to discover the landscapes of Champagne.

Take a trip back in time aboard a vintage 2CV, the iconic French mid-century automobile, to discover the must-see sights of Reims and the nearby vineyards. In the company of your driver-guide, set off on an original 2-hour ride. ON THIS QUIRKY 2-HOUR TOUR, YOUR DRIVER-GUIDE WILL TAKE YOU INTO THE HEART OF THE CITY OF REIMS AND OUT TO THE FAMOUS VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE COUNTRY. From the car, you’ll be able to admire fine examples of the city’s rich heritage including the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Abbey of Saint-Remi, a registered historic monument, also lays on the tour circuit.  Your driver will then head out to Hautvillers in the Montagne de Reims, home of Dom Perignon and the birthplace of champagne. Take advantage of this original tour to see the best of historic Reims and the prestigious champagne vineyards! 

Discover the unmissable sights of the “City of Kings” and its surroundings thanks to this 1-hr-15-min. tour in a classic 2CV car. Fall under the charm of Reims and the surrounding countryside on this tour with a private chauffeur-guide. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS UNUSUAL TOUR IN A VINTAGE 2CV TO ADMIRE REIMS AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. ACCOMPANIED BY YOUR DRIVER-GUIDE, SET OFF FOR A 75-MINUTE RIDE THROUGH THE TOWN AND COUNTRY. You’ll be able to admire the valleys and hills that characterize the region of Reims as you make your way out of the city. Stop off on a hillside close to some vineyards, where your guide will reveal all the secrets of the history and production of champagne. As you head back into Reims, you’ll pass some of city’s most important heritage sites such as the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Abbey of Saint-Remi, a registered historic monument, also lays on the tour circuit.  Altogether, this tour by vintage car is a novel and efficient way to discover the “City of Kings” and the champagne vineyards! 

Experience an original tour lasting 2 hrs. 30 mins aboard a vintage Citroën car. Take advantage of this activity to discover the must-see sites of Reims in an original way and visit a cellar to taste some excellent champagne! TAKE A TRIP INTO THE PAST ABOARD A VINTAGE 2CV, THE ICONIC FRENCH AUTOMOBILE. Accompanied by your driver-guide, set off for a 2-hr-30-min ride through the town and country. Sit back and take in the major historical sites of Reims. From the car, you’ll be able to admire fine examples of the city’s rich heritage including the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Abbey of Saint-Remi, a registered historic monument, also lays on the tour circuit.  Your driver will then head out of town on the winding country roads that lead into the heart of the Champagne wine region. Take advantage of a visit to a local cellar to taste some excellent champagne! Make the most of this original trip to discover the “City of Kings” and Champagne Country!  

Enjoy a unique trip aboard an iconic 2CV vintage car to discover the best of Reims and the nearby countryside. It’s also the occasion to visit a cellar in the Champagne wine region and taste some of the excellent champagne! IN THE COMPANY OF YOUR DRIVER-GUIDE, SET OFF ON AN ORIGINAL 3-HR-30-MIN RIDE. ENJOY THIS FUN TOUR TO DISCOVER ESSENTIAL REIMS AND THE FAMOUS VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE COUNTRY. From the car, you’ll be able to admire fine examples of the city’s rich heritage including the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Abbey of Saint-Remi, a registered historic monument, also lays on the tour circuit.  Your driver will then take you to meet a local winemaker, where you will visit the winery and cellar before tasting some of the champagne produced on-site! Make the most of this original trip to discover the “City of Kings” and the Champagne wine region! 

Spend an hour aboard a vintage Citroën 2CV to discover the must-see sites of Reims in an original way, stopping off to taste some champagne en route! Your driver-guide will take you on a journey through the city’s streets and through its history.  THIS ORIGINAL RIDE WILL TAKE YOU TO THE HEART OF THE “CITY OF KINGS”. IN THE COMPANY OF YOUR DRIVER-GUIDE, SET OFF FOR A 1-HOUR TOUR OF CENTRAL REIMS. From the car, you’ll be able to admire the rich heritage of the city including the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You’ll also see the Abbey of Saint-Remi, another listed historic monument.  Take a look at the champagne houses located in the Crayères, and make the most of a break to taste some champagne! You will continue towards the historical boulevards and cross the Place du Forum to finish at Place Royale. Take advantage of this quirky tour to see the best of historic Reims! 

Discover the city of Reims with the City Pass: unlimited transportation and free access to cultural and leisure activities! DISCOVER THE CITY OF REIMS WITH THE CITY PASS: UNLIMITED TRANSPORTATION AND FREE ACCESS TO CULTURAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES! This pass offers you access to 18 tourist services for 24, 48 or 72 hours. Discover the list of free sites below with the Reims City Pass. You will notably be able receive: * Entry to the Tau Palace (recognised by UNSECO) * A guided visit in Reims Cathedral (recognisd by UNSECO) * A circuit of the city by bus with an audioguide * Reductions to visit the champagne caves and vineyard caves * Lots of other activites and reductions! You will be able to use the CITURA public transport (all bus and tramway lines in Reims included) without limit during your chosen time period. You will also be able to receive shopping discounts and discounts for different shows, trips and excursions in the surrounding vineyards. You will also be able to discover the largest wine cave of the whole region at a reduced price!

This old ornamental ironworks has been turned into an experimental centre "to promote lifestyle in a rural environment". It includes a museum, a high-quality programme of cultural events and agricultural activities (nettles, fruit and vegetable growing). The general public is invited to follow a footpath across the 9-hectare site, past the old abbey and factory. They can also see the shop, with its outstanding collection of cast iron models. An exhibition illustrates the history of this site and the Bar-le-Duc area as a whole. Guided tours are available on Sundays and with advance booking. There is also a shop selling local products. Audioguides are available in French, German and English. A discovery kit is available for children.

The job of the Agence nationale pour la gestion des déchets radioactifs (Andra, national agency for the management of radioactive waste) is to design and install an industrial geological storage facility for radioactive waste at a depth of 500 metres in clay rock. On the site of the underground facility, you can see a model of a storage gallery and find out about the scientific tests conducted on the rock. In the technology gallery, see prototypes of machinery illustrating the principles of deep geological storage. The visit lasts from 2 to 2½ hours.

Built in a courtyard adjoining the cloister, protected from the frost and the wind, the "jardin des simples" has been designed according to typical abbey gardens : medicinal and aromatic plants.

12th-century Premonstratensian abbey rebuilt in the 18th century in Stainville between Ménil-sur-Saulx and Juvigny-en-Perthois. The remaining parts of the abbey include the outbuildings, covered well, splendid vaulted cellars and some of the abbey building itself with some fabulous rooms. The church still has its West Front, with two massive square towers. Guided tours available throughout the year on request. Minimum of 10 people required for groups.

Among Grand's most emblematic monuments, the basilica and the mosaic it houses are in an exceptional state of preservation. The mosaic also stands out for its size (232 m2), its geometric decoration, and the presence of animals around the central painting, the emblema. The exhibition space invites visitors to discover this rich heritage, through a collection of sculptures, witnesses to daily life, and also rare ivory, bone and wood objects discovered in the village's many wells.

The chapel is located where Saint Libaire is said to be buried. Surrounded by the former Roman road leading to Soulosse , the place was occupied by an large public edifice which preceded a necropolis in the Early Middle Ages. The present chapel has been founded in the first part of the 15th century in two archeological campaigns : the first one for the five-sided apse and the second one for the unique three-aisle nave. There are still rests of murals remaining, particularly in the choir.

The area between the rampart and the amphitheatre was occupied in Antiquity by a vast public building, which could have been a thermal complex if we consider the remains discovered in the 19th century under the neighbouring orchards. Excavations carried out between 2010 and 2016 uncovered a gallery leading to these buildings. This gallery, 6 m wide and over 40 m long, was distinguished by the richness of its decoration, given the large number of marble fragments and painted plaster found. The square in front of the portico was crossed by an underground pipe that probably connected the spring beneath the church with the thermal baths it fed. A selection of the objects unearthed during these excavations is on display in the Mosaic Museum.

Known since the 18th century, the Grand amphitheatre has been the subject of an ambitious research program since the 1960s, revealing its colossal architecture and dimensions. With a total length of 148 m, the amphitheater was built around an arena where gladiators, wild animals and hunters fought, and which must have been around 25 m high. Over 17,000 spectators could be seated on the bleachers.

In the 16th century, the aristocracy of the Duchy of Bar owned country-châteaux in the "Vallée de la Saulx", a few miles away from Bar-le-Duc. In 1506, Pierre Merlin, auditor of the Duke of Bar, had his castle built in Haironville. The general architecture of the castle de la Varenne is sober, the proportions very harmonious. The pigeon-house, a royal privilege, ends the left wing, proud of its 3000 pigeeon-holes. In the main hall, both the magnificent and rare Renaissance stone panelled ceiling and the 18th century main staircase are vivid witnesses of the history of la Varenne. The grounds, surrounded by the river "la Saulx", include a terrace in the French style and a romantic park with remarkable trees.

Considering the age of the plantations, one can come to the conclusion that the park has been designed around 1880, probably by the great-great grandfather of the actual owners... It is hard to imagine the gardens of Pierre Merlin, when he lived there, at the turn of the 16th century ! We only own a fairly simple plan of the gardens, dated 1793 : the terrace was then divided into four grass-plots, which became in the 19th century one single grass-plot, surrounded by a box rim; The grounds show definitely two different approaches : the terrace "à la française" and the park itselsf, a vast meadow dotted by distant clumps of trees, as far as one can see... A romantic walk along the shaded banks of the river Saulx, stone benches now and then, allowing some rest and gorgeous points of view on the castle, the river ot the 17th century stone bridge of the village : all is combined to gratify the visitors.

Bar, hotel, restaurant, cafeteria. Open 6 days a week from 7am to 10.30pm. Cafeteria open for lunch, Mondays to Fridays. Menu from €24 or set menu at €18 in the restaurant + a la carte. Free WiFi.

The restaurant has 2 menus at weekends. During the week, there is a lunch special.

Lunch, Mondays to Fridays: menu of the day. Evenings: pizzas, fast food.

Located beside the Parc des Luxembourg, the restaurant du Parc welcome guests every day. The atmosphere is family-oriented and the restaurant serves traditional fare as well as the chef's specialities.

L'Athéna is a restaurant, bar and brasserie ideally located for a break. You'll be warmly welcomed by the staff, who will be able to discuss the menu with you. Located in the town centre, its busy summer alfresco dining area is a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by.

Located in the centre of Ligny-en-Barrois at the gateway to Lorraine, Le Cheval Blanc has all the charm and conviviality of a restaurant with its own character. It's a gourmet stopover combining traditional, copious cuisine with an appeal to the senses.

Sandwiches, salads, toasted sandwiches, ice creams, milkshakes, waffles, pancakes, and seasonal home-made cakes / pastries.

Inventive cuisine. The 5 styles of decoration make this the only restaurant of its kind in the region. Outstanding value for money. Kids' play area and area for baby. Ideal for functions, birthday parties, weddings and meetings. Catering service available.

Situated in the middle of the village of Soulaines-Dhuys, la Venise Verte offers refined cooking that will make you want to stay the night in the hotel. The lounge bar is open to clients of the hotel as well as for themed soirées that are organized there. Every month, the establishment organizes a tapas soirée.

7 spacious bedrooms with en-suite (6 double rooms and 1 triple), common room with table, chairs and lounge area, well-equipped kitchen. Rentals available per room or for the entire gîte.

Le Bindeuil hotel and restaurant offers guests a chance to explore the area and enjoy the beauty of the natural environment, whatever the season. Located on the outskirts of the village of Bure (Meuse) on the Joinville-Nancy road, the hotel has 14 bright, modern rooms with country views and all the amenities you require for a comfortable stay (HDTV, WiFi, hair dryer etc.).

Saint-Dizier 25 km - Bar-le-Duc à 25 km. 2 bedrooms in a very beautiful 19th-century house near the Der Lake (35 mins from Giffaumont-Champaubert, 25 mins from Eclaron). Private, enclosed parking - swimming pool. From mid-May to the end of August.

Charming little house in the heart of the village, easily accessible from the N4. The house has one bedroom (bed 160x200) and a sofa bed with comfortable mattress in the living room. 12 km from Saint-Dizier, 22 km from Bar-le-Duc.

Between Saint-Dizier and Ligny-en-Barrois. Enjoy a break in quiet surroundings and charming rooms in the country. 1 double room (double bed) and one suite for 2 people (double bed) with a double bed settee and babycare equipment (cot, changing table). They each have a private shower and toilet. Living room with balcony, TV lounge with fireplace.

Bar le Duc 30 km, Ligny en Barrois 16 km - 15 km from main road (Route Nationale 4). Renovated house at the heart of a former “Cité du Cheval” – or equestrian – village. 2 upstairs rooms with separate entrance: 1 suite for 4 people comprising 1 double bed (180 x 200), lounge area and room with 2 bunk beds, shower room with washbasin and WC ; 1 room with twin beds, lounge area, shower room with washbasin and WC. Communal living room reserved exclusively for guests with fully fitted open-plan kitchen with breakfast bar, TV, board games and books. Private parking. Horses and ponies in the nearby carriage-driving school. Stabling available for horses. Rambling/riding trails nearby. Restaurants in village and 4 km away. Open all year.

Overnight gîte sleeping 10 people in bedrooms (1 bedroom with 6 beds and 1 bedroom with 5 beds) and 14 beds in a dormitory. Close to the equestrian tourism centre in Biencourt, the Joan of Arc Trail. Booking required.

Enjoy a quiet stay in the delightful Auberge d'Hévillers between Ligny-en-Barrois and Bure. You'll love the family atmosphere, the authenticity of the surroundings and the wonderful flower-decked patio providing a shady place to sit and relax in fine weather. Francine and Thierry offer 11 well-appointed rooms on two floors, most of them overlooking the garden and the heated indoor pool (April to October). As for meals, the Chef prefers traditional cuisine and home-made food, producing a wide selection of dishes that are prepared with care and full of taste.

Well-equipped kitchen, large common room (capacity: 60 people) with open fire. 5 bedrooms on ground floor (3 or 4 single beds per room), 4 bedrooms upstairs (3 to 5 single beds per room). Booking required.

In a quiet village close to all amenities, the Appart des Chevreuils comprises an equipped kitchen, a living room, 2 bedrooms and a sofa bed, a shower room and a separate toilet. Parking is available nearby. Reduced rate for 1 person only, please contact us.