Discover the heart of Champagne

Around Lac du Der, 1001 ideas for holidays

Nautical activities
Fishing
Ornithology
Historical heritage
Cycling, walking, horse riding

Welcome to Lac du Der! This veritable "sea in Champagne" spreads its water sports activities and fine sandy beaches between Paris, Reims, Nancy and Dijon. For a seaside break, it's the ideal destination... But that's not all!

Come and fish for pike with your feet in the water, or watch the flocks of grey cranes in the cool of the morning. Tour the lake on foot, by bike or on horseback and discover the beauty of the Champagne countryside.

Discover the history of Montier-en-Der, Saint-Dizier and Vitry-le-François. You'll receive a warm, authentic and natural welcome.

Choose the holiday that suits you best

Whether you're a history buff, a Champagne enthusiast, or a bird lover, welcome to Lake Der!

Immerse yourself in the history of the lake by boat, from its creation to what it is today. Our greeters and guides are ready to guide you through the stories.
Follow the route of the timber-framed churches by car or by bike and immerse yourself in a religious and architectural heritage that is unique in France.
Rediscover the history of cast iron on an itinerary starting in Saint-Dizier, one of France's leading metallurgical centres.

For a family holiday, come and discover an authentic region!

Water activities

Family activities

It's not for nothing that Lac du Der is known as "the sea of Champagne". With its 6 fine sandy beaches, you'll have the choice of laying out your towel wherever you please.

Set sail from one of the 3 harbours for a day of sailing or motoring: jet-skiing, kite surfing, fly boarding... Learn the basics of catamaran sailing or funboarding at one of the 4 sailing schools, or let yourself be guided for a ride on the boat "au fil de l'eau".

Discover the lake gently on paddles, kayaks and pedalos. And if you're a thrill-seeker, don't miss the next edition of Moov'O'Der, the water sports festival.

Fishing for predators

The 4800 ha of Lac du Der-Chantecoq are a fisherman's paradise. Its clear, healthy waters are ideal for stalking predators: pike, pike-perch, perch and large catfish abound. You can also fish for carp at night. Get out your cameras to document the size of your catch...

and watch the grey cranes

Don't forget your telephoto lens! From October to March, Lac du Der is one of the best places in the world to watch the migration of the grey cranes. Travelling from Scandinavia to southern Europe, 200,000 to 350,000 individuals pass through each year, including 20,000 to 30,000 that spend the winter here. At sunrise, the swarms of birds form an impressive spectacle.

Hiking around Lac du Der

250 km on foot, on horseback or by bike

On the mainland, 150 km of greenways and cycle paths await you to discover the beauty of the Champagne bocage while you pedal.

On foot, 250 km of signposted trails will take you through the countryside around the lake. The popular 36km tour of the lake can be done on foot, by bike, electric scooter or even donkey, for a day or several days.

If you're a horse-riding enthusiast, pay a visit to the Montier-en-Der stud farm, listed as an exceptional heritage site.

Photo, © Lac du Der - Nos coeurs voyageurs

Cultivate the memory of a unique heritage

Between Colombey-les-Deux-Églises and Verdun, Lac du Der is at the heart of history.

Come and discover a collection of objects dating from 1870 to the Indochina War at the Saint-Dizier historial. Follow the circuit of art fountains in a major metallurgical centre and the ramparts trail to go back in time.

At the Der village museum, learn the incredible story of the 3 villages that disappeared and how the church at Nuisement-aux-Bois was saved.

Where is Lac du Der?

Straddling the Marne and Haute-Marne, Lac du Der lies at the heart of the Champagne region.

It can be reached by road in :

10 min from Montier-en-Der, 15 min from Saint-Dizier and Wassy.
1 hour from Chaumont, Nancy, Reims and Troyes
2 hours from Dijon
2h30 from Paris and Strasbourg
3 hours from Lille and the Belgian border
4 hours from Lyon

You can get there by train from Vitry-le-François or Saint-Dizier stations.