REGIONAL NATURE PARK OF THE ORIENTAL FOREST

The Oriental Forest is a storybook in itself. From the 9th century onwards, great religious orders occupied the park, clearing the forest and creating the first ponds. The names "Forêt du Temple" or "Forêt d'Orient" echo the Templar order - in the 12th century, these monk-soldiers ensured the safety of pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land - founded in 1118 by Hugues de Payns and destroyed in 1307 by Philippe le Bel. The forest thus becomes a form of historical sanctuary, which is perpetuated by a natural sanctuary. The second half of the 20th century saw the impoundment of large reservoirs - 5,000 ha of water - including the Seine reservoir - Lac d'Orient - commissioned in 1966, supplemented since 1990-1991 by the Aube reservoir, which includes Lake Amance and Lac du Temple. Owned by the Institution interdépartementale des barrages réservoirs du bassin de la Seine, they allow, depending on the period, to reduce floods or to increase the flow of the river and its tributary. The territory - 82,000 ha - has been classified as a Regional Nature Park since 1970. Extended to 39 communes of the Aube department when it was created, there are now 58 to benefit from the designation of Regional Nature Park of the Orient Forest. The creation of these reservoir lakes has increased the attractiveness of the site for birds, ornithologists, hikers and water sports enthusiasts. The large lakes have found their place by becoming tourist attractions for the whole region and by offering a variety of leisure activities.

The Maison du Parc, inaugurated in 1973, is the central element of the management of the PNRFO; it administers the park. It houses the headquarters of the inter-communal tourist office (✆ 03 25 43 38 88). This former farm of Champagne architecture, destined to disappear during the urbanization of the place called Le Point du Jour, at the exit of Troyes, houses the headquarters of the Syndicat mixte pour l'aménagement et la gestion du PNRFO. It participates in the development and animation of economic, naturalist and scientific, cultural and sporting activities of the Orient Forest. Of the three buildings that made up the original structure, the barn has been preserved, rehabilitated into meeting rooms and temporary exhibitions, as well as the offices, the sheds and the stable, which constitute the permanent exhibition room. A programme of nature outings allows visitors to discover the Park according to specific themes.