Boucle du lac de Chaumeçon
This hike will take you through forests and Morvandelle meadows, with magnificent views over the lake and the Chalaux valley.
The first part of your walk takes you through forests and Morvandelle meadows, with magnificent views over the lake and the Chalaux valley. The bridge at Bruyères was once an important timber rafting port. Logs were marked and stacked there until spring, when they were thrown into the river.
They were collected in Clamecy, where they were assembled into wooden trains and sailed back to Paris. Wood from the Morvan heated the capital from 1550 to 1850. At that time, there was no Chaumeçon dam (and therefore no lake either). It was built in 1935 and helps to regulate the course of the Seine and generate electricity. When water is released, the course of the Chalaux swells to the delight of white-water sports enthusiasts. Its reputation as an impetuous river has led to the organisation of national and European competitions.
After leaving the shores of the lake, you can see a public saw bench on the outskirts of Brizon. Able to cut logs from 6 to 12 metres in length, it is another reminder of the importance of timber in the Morvan economy throughout history.
