Forêt de la Chamarande & Lac de la Liez
Just eight kilometres north-east of Chaumont, the Lac de la Liez is a 290-hectare reservoir ringed by forests and meadows, offering sailing, windsurfing, cycling, and long walking trails that feel a world away from any city — yet you can be back in Chaumont for dinner with ease.
On and around the water
The lake was created in the 1960s as a water reservoir and has since become the outdoor playground of the Haute-Marne. A sailing club (Cercle de Voile de la Liez) offers rental of dinghies and windsurfers in summer, and the sight of colourful sails against the forested hillsides is genuinely picturesque. Pedalo and kayak hire is also available at the main beach area.
The designated swimming beach on the southern shore is supervised in July and August, with clean, calm water that warms up nicely by mid-summer. Families from Chaumont treat it as their local seaside, arriving with picnics and spending entire days here.
Walking and cycling the Chamarande forest
Several marked walking trails loop from the lakeside into the surrounding Forêt de la Chamarande, a mixed oak and beech woodland that turns spectacular shades of copper and gold in October. The 12 km circuit around the full perimeter of the lake is flat enough for families and rewards walkers with constantly changing views across the water.
Cyclists can connect the lake to Chaumont via a largely traffic-free route along the Marne valley. The combination of forest shade and open lakeside stretches makes this one of the most pleasant half-day outings in the entire Haute-Marne département.
Forêt de la Chamarande & Lac de la Liez on video
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