Haute-Marne: Forests, Culture and Water

When looking for a hotel in Haute-Marne, you can start planning your trip by considering your own interests. Nature, culture, crafts, cheese and water-based activities offer different reasons to explore the destination. First, consider whether you would like to focus your stay on nature, culture and crafts, or on water and thermal activities.

Forest landscapes and protected habitats

The Parc national de forêts is dedicated to protecting lowland broadleaf forests. Its natural environments also include tufa wetlands. The park encompasses 18 Natura 2000 sites, covering 28 percent of its area; it extends across Haute-Marne and Côte-d'Or. This means that, alongside forest conservation, other habitats are also in focus. The Parc national de forêts has walking, horse-riding and cycling trails. Rando forêts also lists accommodation, restaurants, and natural and cultural heritage in the park.

The Tufière de Rolampont is another specific natural feature of Haute-Marne: the Natura 2000 site covers 80 hectares. If nature is your main interest, you can distinguish between forest conservation, wetlands, different types of trails and a specifically named site. The options thus range from the wider landscape to a single protected area.

Culture, monuments and crafts

Langres has approximately eight kilometres of fortifications. While this is an approximate figure, it gives an idea of the scale of this architectural feature. Another striking memorial is the Croix de Lorraine at the Mémorial: it is 44 metres high and made of pink granite and bronze. Both examples provide specific points of interest for a cultural trip, but they differ in form: fortifications on the one hand, a single monument on the other.

The Musée de la coutellerie explores the technical and social history of traditional cutlery-making from the 18th century to the present day. Culture can also be explored through a craft, alongside monuments: its history encompasses both the technical work and its social dimension. If you are planning to visit the museum, check the current visitor arrangements in advance.

Cheese-making traditions and basketry

The AOP Langres production area in Haute-Marne includes the arrondissements of Chaumont and Langres. Visitors are welcome at the Maison des Fromages de Langres et de Haute-Marne to discover and taste regional cheeses. For cheese lovers, this combines protected origin with a specific reason to visit. Check the Maison’s current visitor arrangements before travelling.

Another focus is Fayl-Billot, where training in basketry and willow cultivation—unique in France—is offered. This brings together two closely related subjects: working with the material and growing willow. If you would like to include a course in your plans, check which options are currently available. Cheese-making traditions and basketry thus appeal to different interests: food and provenance on one hand, crafts and training on the other.

Water, cycling and thermal activities

Haute-Marne offers boating and water sports on five lakes; canoeing is possible on rivers. These activities differ according to the body of water and the type of experience. At Lac du Der, the circular route includes a 38-kilometre cycle path—another specific point of reference for anyone looking to include a longer bike ride in their trip. The water-based activities and the cycle path offer different ways to make your stay active.

In Bourbonne-les-Bains, thermal water emerges at 66°C. The thermal centre offers invigorating baths, showers, massages and hammams. This adds a wellness focus to trip planning, alongside nature and water sports. If you are planning your trip around the thermal centre’s facilities, check which services are currently available in advance.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Cusey, Dardenay, Lamargelle-Aux-Bois, Millières, Piépape, Praslay, Anrosey, Euffigneix, Jagee, Laferté-Sur-Amance, Langres, Lanty Sur Aube, Leurville, Thonnance Les Moulins, Longeau-Percey, Chatoillenot, Coublanc, Saint-Dizier, Colombey-Les-Deux-Églises, Chaumont, Bourbonne-Les-Bains, Arc-En-Barrois, Vitry-Lès-Nogent, Villegusien-Le-Lac, Savigny, Peigney, Villars-En-Azois, Le Châtelet-Sur-Meuse, Choiseul, Saint-Michel, Auberive, Aprey, Aujeurres, Bugnières, Chantraines, Ecot-La-Combe, Fayl-Billot, Goncourt, Bourmont, Guindrecourt-Sur-Blaise, Mussey-Sur-Marne, Gudmont-Villiers, Ceffonds, Châteauvillain, Bannes, Saint-Ciergues, Pisseloup, Poissons, Nogent, Villiers-Sur-Suize, Vaux-Sous-Aubigny, Vignes-La-Côté, Chamouilley, Montier-En-Der, Bourg, Flagey, Val-De-Meuse, Le Val-D'esnoms, Éclaron-Braucourt-Sainte-Livière, Joinville, Prauthoy, Doulaincourt-Saucourt, Nully, Trémilly, Semoutiers-Montsaon, Pressigny, Doncourt-Sur-Meuse, Brainville-Sur-Meuse, Lavilleneuve, Viéville, Droyes, Andelot-Blancheville, Montsaugeon, Saints-Geosmes, Dancevoir, Doulevant-le-Château, Chevillon, Rouelles, Haute-Amance, Wassy, Orges, Lafauche, Verseilles-le-Bas, Rochetaillée, Clinchamp, Laferté-sur-Aube, Champigny-sous-Varennes, Rennepont, Foulain, Bettancourt-la-Ferrée, Vecqueville, Thonnance-lès-Joinville, Maranville, Neuilly-l'Évêque, Villars-Santenoge, Daillancourt, Bailly-aux-Forges, Bayard-sur-Marne, Culmont, Parnoy-en-Bassigny.

For the broader travel overview: Champagne-Ardenne.