i 🌊 Lakes & swimming
Lac du Der
Covering almost 4,800 hectares, Lac du Der is the largest artificial lake in France and has become one of Europe's top spots for watching common cranes.
Getting there
Mainly accessible by car; Saint-Dizier and Vitry-le-François stations are nearby.
History
Filled in 1974 to regulate the flow of the Marne and protect Paris from flooding, its creation meant relocating several villages.
Culture & stories
Every autumn and winter, tens of thousands of cranes stop over here. In summer it's time for swimming, sailing and cycling around the lake, among half-timbered churches.