Trip around Remoray lake

This small wooden structure and its equipment - which is still complete in Remoray - along with the yoke which only seems to be missing some straps is also called a “cattle squeeze”. It served to immobilise large animals, horses and cattle, to work on their hooves. The construction needed to be very sturdy to withstand the animal’s strength as they were not always cooperative and to ensure the blacksmith’s safety.

A specific High-Jura landscape and considered paradise for mushroom pickers, wooded meadows are unique places where man has reconciled grass and trees, pastures and forests. Here, cattle can find shade, coolness and protection from the rain under the scattered trees. But beware of lightening!

Initially, the sawmill was a grain mill which used the driving power provided by the waters of the Drésine river. A sawmill then settled here in 1840 to make use of the mill’s facilities. Technical and social developments left their mark on the Boujeons sawmill and are explained and illustrated in detail by an interpretive signpost found here.

This animal lives mainly by day, in smaller or larger herds depending on the season (there tend to be more of them in the winter than in summer). Mating season is between the end of October and the end of January, during which period males are very aggressive, challenging each other with their horns and sometimes resulting in deadly falls depending on where the fight takes place. After a gestation period of around 23 weeks, females birth one or two kids, who will stay by their side until they are one year old. 

In the foreground of this belvedere is the Lake of Remoray and its crown of peat bogs, classed as a National Natural Reserve since 1980; in the background, the Lake of Saint-Point, one of the largest natural lakes in France. A true sanctuary for biodiversity, the Reserve of the Lake of Remoray is home to a remarkable range of fauna and flora, particularly in relation to its humid environments: Common snipe, water rail, fringed pink, bird’s-eye primrose, violet copper, dark whiteface, etc. However, be careful, access to the heart of the Reserve is prohibited; this remarkable natural heritage can also be discovered at the Reserve House in Labergement-Sainte-Marie. Learn more about the National Natural Reserve of the Lake of Remoray: www.maisondelareserve.fr

The Remoray church was built in a uniform neo-gothic style during the 19th century. Nearby, the old rectory was rehabilitated as a Maison du Patrimoine (House of Heritage) in 2015 and was awarded the “Park values” label as a site to be visited. The rooms and gardens have been reconstructed as they would have been during the 19th century. The region’s history, tradition and local dialects are some of the topics addressed during visits. This place also contains a unique feature worldwide: panoramic wallpaper in the formal bedroom! (www.patrimoine-remoray.fr).