The tone has been set and a good mood is guaranteed

The meeting point was given 10 minutes away from Épinal towards Lake Bouzey. Here we were, at the heart of a green paradise by the waterside where Lionel and Gaëlle were waiting for us with strange two wheeled machines.

Lionel warmly welcomed us and presented the activity. Before riding our vehicle, we were given a few safety instructions to make the most of this unusual ride. Helmets and flat shoes were strongly recommended.

The reliefs of the landscape, which we were going to travel, were explained to us so we could anticipate what was going to happen. We were going to cross forests and paved roads, chippings and sand trails. We couldn' wait to start our ride.

Riding on a self-balancing vehicle

The site is outstanding. The lake invites its visitors to contemplate its rich fauna and flora. The banks are equipped for everyone and, on our way, we crossed cyclists, hikers, walkers, families, fishermen, windsurfers to name but a few. This euphoric and delightful digression put me at ease and I allowed myself some bursts of speed. Our unwonted expedition caught people's attention but sadly our tour was soon close to its end. Gaëlle and Lionel pampered us and were also very attentive to our capacities with the vehicles. Time flew by and we finished too quickly. We look forward to doing it again during another season, to observe the colours in the forest surrounding the site.

We returned our futuristic steeds on imagining our next ride. On foot or on two wheels, we promised ourselves, we will return to this unusual and idyllic site.

An unforgettable experience

When I was a child, I got the opportunity to discover the Planetarium while going on a school trip to Épinal. I was introduced to the concept and I was told that this was a place where I could see stars and learn about the planets. I was not really keen on it at first, as I found the subject too complicated. After all, although I only kept relatively vague memories of this experience, I still remember this feeling of grandiosity and amazement. This astonishing place, housing a breath-taking universe that allows people to escape for almost an hour while keeping their head in the stars, has stayed in my memory. I can still remember this overwhelming feeling of lightness when I discovered the constellations and their history. The worry I first had about this complex aspect naturally vanished thanks to the rather simple and fun explanations given by the guide. I have always wanted to go back to the Planetarium and relive this feeling.

A cosmic show

We were plunged into complete darkness so we could see the stars better. I felt like I was under the sky just like on a summer’s night when it is completely clear. Our guide gave us a 20- minute speech with calm and composed explanations. Then, we watched a 20-minute video. The specialist’s voice carried me away. At the same time, the dazzling spectacle that I had before my eyes was carrying me back into my childhood.  Little by little, my vague souvenirs became clearer and clearer as the screening unfolded. The universe seemed so close, I could have touched it. There was a man, a row behind me, whose eyes were so wide-opened we understood that he had been completely carried away and had immersed himself into this stellar universe. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly thanks, notably, to the comfortable seats which were perfectly slanted in order to have an overall view of the sky as well as the discussions between the expert and the people in the room. I must admit, I did not asked many questions but the people next to me made up for that.

Practical information

Opening hours :

• Monday - Thursday 9 a.m.-12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
• Friday 1.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m
• Closed at weekends.

Address : Planétarium d’Épinal (MJC Belle Étoile)
Rue Dom Pothier, 88000 ÉPINAL
Telephone : +33 (0)3 29 35 08 02

Raw material, equipment and skills

That Sunday morning in October, we were about ten apprentice brewers to meet Reynald in the former dairy in Xertigny. Make no mistake, the beverage we were about to prepare did not require milk but cereals. The premises which were once used for cheese incubation have been rehabilitated. There we were, at the heart of an authentic craft brewery.

We were welcomed in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The agenda of the day was presented to us. We started the initiation with theoretical advice which would allow us to understand the practical aspect of brewing, namely the elaboration of the recipe of our tasty drink.

Hops, many cereals, fermenters, milk tanks, cold rooms, labellers, we were in the process of getting more and more familiar with all the ingredients and tools we needed to make our recipe. Through his explanations, Reynald was passing on his passion for old-fashioned brewing. The beer that we were about to make would be unfiltered and not pasteurized; it was just brewed with noble, raw materials of quality.

A time for discovery

We were invited for a tasting after some of the members of the cooperative joined us for lunch, which we had booked earlier. All of them are driven by a passion which they pass on with care, so that their skills can be shared with everybody. There is no competition in the world of brewers, they are complementary.

Our workshop finished at the end of the afternoon. We warmly thanked our trainer for the day, and he fixed another meeting in 4 weeks’ time for the bottling of our own production. It had been a day full of encounters, sharing moments and discoveries, amid a team of enthusiastic brewers.

A little bit of history

We came upon the fortifications Séré de Rivière more than ten years ago around Épinal and this is where the most beautiful, remarkable forts can be found. When coming to Épinal, you need to discover the history of this old stronghold which belonged to the most modern military towns in France on the eve of the Great War. The area consisted of seventeen forts and nearly a hundred small fortifications equipped with more than six hundred pieces of artillery.

Today, only three sites can be visited in the area, with a distance of not more than three kilometres between each one. You must go to Uxegney and Golbey, in the north of Épinal. This is where you will satisfy your wish to learn about the forts, which embody rightly the stronghold system implemented by General Séré de Rivières after the war in 1870.

A modern-day fort

Finally, you can end your tour of the forts by going back on the road passing the fort in Bois l’Abbé; then keep going along the military railway that drives you straight to the fort in Uxegney. This last fort, which has been entirely modernized, is opened in the summer. You can learn about the technologies of the 20^th century. There, you can leapfrog from the oil lamp to electricity and from cannons in the open air to ironclad turrets. The visit to the kitchen and the electric factory completes the discovery of this extraordinary heritage.

These three works are now being restored by associations whose members are passionate volunteers. They take great pleasure in welcoming and introducing this part of the history of France to you.