Industrial memory

On this summer Sunday in Charmes, we walk along the small canal of the Moulin accompanied by the song of the birds. We admire the magnificent trees reflected in the clear water of this stream. At the end of the rue du Moulin, an old building welcomes us: the Battant Ecomuseum. Roger, the guide, is waiting for us: he will take us to a place totally out of time.

Joining some tourists, we start the visit by discovering a temporary exhibition and a model of the Battant site made by a Carpinien* (*inhabitant of Charmes). We then enter the oldest industry in Charmes, in the cool of the place, and watch a short film on the history of this place. The site comes alive before our eyes: we imagine the workers effortlessly operating the deafening machines and the inventors registering their patent. The first trace of activity in Battant dates back to 1580 with the clothiers.

Discovering science at any age

The Battant Ecomuseum is an opportunity to rediscover the past and understand how physics works. We remember our ancestors and understand how the objects we still use in our daily lives were made. A museum to discover with young and old.

After this beautiful visit of about two hours in the past, it was time for a picnic at the pond of Essegney !  We set off again on foot, taking the large bridge at Charmes to reach the Ile-sous-Essegney path. An area preserved for nature, with a beautiful path that will allow us to reach the shaded pond. A beautiful summer day as we like them !

The path of the water

After a barefoot expedition to the Adventure Farm, we decided to continue our discovery of the south of the territory with a visit to the Gentrey Mill, a former 19th century starch factory. We are welcomed to the site by a volunteer from the association "Les Kemottes" (which means "potatoes" in local dialect), which has been working for about ten years to revive this site. He immediately plunges us into the daily life of the Beaudoin family who operated this starch factory until 1967.

We head to the back of the building to find ourselves in a green and peaceful setting and stop for a moment along the canal to listen to the story of the "water path" that once guided the water from the Vôge to the large mill wheel.

We approach this famous wooden wheel and our guide activates the mechanism making it turn at high speed. The water flows over the blades and generates the hydraulic force that produces the energy.

Potatoes with every kinds of sauces

The experience ends in the former straw loft which has been transformed into a reception room. Inside, old agricultural machinery is on display. The authentic and rural setting is ideal for sharing a moment of conviviality with other visitors.

Guided tours are offered from March to the end of October, every Friday and Sunday afternoon. 3 options are available : visit only (5€), with snack (10€), with meal (28€). We opted for the snack option : such a rich and complete visit is very tiring! On the menu: local juice, apple-rhubarb crumble (it's in season), scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream and a potato jam roll cake, of course!

We'll be back soon for a concert, a theme night or a game night over a gratin dauphinois or a nice tray of chips.

A setting conducive to relaxation

For all self-respecting epicureans, local markets and craft markets are a must during our summer holidays to taste local specialities and bring back souvenirs for our loved ones.

In Epinal, these markets are called "Les Merveilleuses Estivales": an evocative name which promises us to spend wonderful moments with our grandchildren. Every Thursday evening from 7 July to 18 August from 4pm to 8.30pm, the Place de l'Atre and Place Edmond Henry are transformed into an open-air market.

These newly renovated squares located at the foot of the majestic Saint-Maurice Basilica in Epinal are ideal for long summer evenings spent strolling around. The fountains that line the building provide a place to cool off: the children have a great time while we contemplate the architecture of the surrounding buildings that make up the city's historic centre.

Carefully selected craftsmen

We continue our journey through the stalls and marvel at the work of a blacksmith who forges a barbecue fork before our astonished eyes. Further on, we stop for a few minutes to watch a basket-maker making a basket with an unusual shape. Our grandson even got to try his hand at stone cutting!

This Thursday is dedicated to craftsmen whose trades revolve around heritage, restoration and gardens. Each Thursday is dedicated to a different theme. Next week, it will be the turn of the fashion and textile professions to be honoured. We will be back with pleasure for our little girl who spotted the presence of Pauline Cavret, better known under the name of "Atelier Jiro", a bootmaker & craftswoman who makes shoes and leather jewellery by hand in the Vosges and from whom she hopes to find a unique model.

After this gustatory and sensory journey, we decide to extend the experience by sitting down on one of the many terraces of the nearby restaurants to have a good meal.

Stopover at the Port of Epinal

The weather is nice, it's hot, it's summer in Epinal. The desire to get into the water is felt and after having tested water skiing at the Wam Park in Thaon-les-Vosges last summer, I am impatient to discover with friends the brand new Base Natur'O opened in May 2022.

A simple phone call to the reception of the Base allows me to book our slots for this afternoon. In July & August, the site is open every day from 9.30am to 7pm.

The advisor suggests a multitude of activities: surfing, canoeing, rafting or buoyancy. I opt for the buoy and the equipment rental (optional) for maximum safety. All I have to do now is put on a swimming costume and a long-sleeved shirt, not forgetting my bath towel. The meeting point is at 2pm at the reception of the Base Natur'O. After paying the fee (18€/adult for 1 hour of descent), we are given our entrance tickets.

Smooth docking

We pass the first obstacles without any trouble. After the first bend, the pace quickens, the waves splash our faces and we manage to get through the stages as best we can: forward, backward, sideways... Little by little, we take our marks and learn to handle the paddles.

On the shore, the instructors of the GESN canoe-kayak club are on the lookout, ready to pounce to get us out of trouble at the slightest difficulty and give us some sound advice. By the second run, we are more confident and tackle the waves with a lot of confidence, which leads to a few dives and lots of laughter.

In 1 hour, we managed to complete 4 or 5 laps of the basin and it was already time to dock. We go back to the changing rooms to take a shower and get dressed before a well-deserved snack in the park next to the basin. We decide to continue our journey with a visit to the Image Museum, located just a few steps away.

Le chemin de l'eau

Après une expédition pieds nus à la Ferme Aventure, nous décidons de poursuivre notre découverte du sud du territoire avec une visite du Moulin Gentrey, une ancienne féculerie du XIXe siècle. Nous sommes accueillis sur le site par un bénévole de l’association « Les Kemottes » (cela signifie « pommes de terre » en patois local), qui œuvre depuis une dizaine d’années pour faire revivre ce site. Il nous plonge immédiatement dans le quotidien de la famille Beaudoin qui a exploité cette féculerie jusqu’en 1967.

Nous nous dirigeons vers l’arrière du bâtiment pour nous retrouver dans un cadre verdoyant et paisible et nous arrêtons un moment le long du canal pour écouter l’histoire du « chemin de l’eau » qui guidait autrefois l’eau de la Vôge vers la grande roue du moulin.

Nous nous approchons de cette fameuse roue en bois et notre guide active le mécanisme la faisant tourner à vive allure. L’eau s’écoule sur les pales et génère la force hydraulique produisant l’énergie.

Pomme de terre à toutes les sauces

L'expérience se termine dans l’ancien grenier à paille transformé en salle de réception. À l’intérieur, des anciennes machines agricoles sont exposées. Le cadre authentique et champêtre est propice pour partager un moment en toute convivialité avec les autres visiteurs.

Des visites guidées sont proposées de mars à fin octobre, tous les vendredis et tous les dimanches après-midi. 3 formules sont disponibles : visite seule (5€), avec goûter (10€), avec repas (28€). Nous avons opté pour la formule avec goûter : une visite aussi riche et complète, ça creuse ! Au menu : jus local, crumble pomme rhubarbe (c’est de saison), boule de glace vanille artisanale et un gâteau roulé à la confiture de pommes de terre, bien sûr !

Nous reviendrons prochainement pour un concert, une soirée à thème ou une soirée jeux autour d’un gratin dauphinois ou d’une bonne barquette de frites.