A beautiful gift for the birds

We then go to the workshop where a pleasant smell of wood hovers and where brand new machines are installed. The place is spacious and bright, I feel immediately at ease. It is not cold and a small jacket is more than enough. The place is somewhat noisy when the machines are in action but headphones and earplugs are provided.

I chose the "balcony nesting box" workshop, accessible to beginners and achievable in about 2 hours.

We discover a plan and a "flow sheet" of the balcony nesting box which is almost similar to that of a piece of furniture to assemble oneself: number of pieces, length, width, material... Everything is described very precisely. Our nesting box will be made of Douglas fir, a species that is widespread in the area and naturally resistant to external aggressions.

Mission accomplished

For an even more personalized birdhouse, Xylolab offers to extend the workshop by engraving it with a laser engraving machine: logo, first name, initials... Everything is possible.

All that's left is to install our creations on a tree using old bicycle inner tubes.

We left with some advice on how to maintain our nesting box throughout the seasons and, above all, with a great deal of pride in having made a comfortable space that will welcome new visitors as soon as spring arrives! Radial saw, sliding table saw, drill press or hand-held drill no longer hold any secrets for us.

Descent between tranquility and thrills

The first few kilometers allow us to get used to our boat and to taste the joys of calm water. Far from the noise of the cars and the hustle and bustle of city life, we enjoy the tranquility. On our way, we have for only traveling companions some ducks as well as cyclists and walkers who traverse the blue way.

Our route map tells us that we have to take our canoes out of the water to pass them on the other side of a small island. Our biceps are put to the test! We arrive in the middle of the Moselle, the current transports us, the wild nature is revealed. In the middle of the trees, sandy beaches are visible and we can see birds flying overhead. We cross the path of a fisherman sitting on his camp chair at the water's edge.

Guinguette atmosphere at Emile Bonheur

When we arrived at the port, the Maison du Vélo, located not far from the canoe kayak club, suggested that we extend the experience with a ride on an electric bike. The proposal is attractive... Brand new Moustache Bikes were offered to us. However, we give up and postpone it to later: the campaign, it wins you!

We decide to have a good time and to push the door of the restaurant Émile Bonheur, located at the edge of the water. In summer, the place has a terrace and a rooftop with a guinguette spirit where we enjoyed a delicious cocktail and tapas with Vosges flavors while watching the sunset. All this, comfortably installed on a deckchair and in a musical and warm atmosphere.

Works for all tastes

The museum is spread over three levels: the first floor is dedicated to ancient and Gallo-Roman history; the second floor houses the permanent Fine Arts collections as well as the temporary exhibition of the moment, while the top floor is reserved for an international contemporary art collection.

We start our visit with the permanent exhibitions. The rooms are wide and well lit. We follow a chronological path that invites us to discover some nuggets of world-famous artists such as Rembrandt, Claude Gelée, De La Tour, Newton, Warhol or Villeglé.

During the visit, we are surprised by the variety of the collections, from archaeology to contemporary art. A surprising but pleasant contrast! Like a journey in time, through the centuries.

Between city and garden

At the back of this room, we discover the main room of this exhibition: The Closed Eyes of Odilon Redon. Landscapes with impressionist accents compose the continuation of the exhibition with the works of Victor Guillaume then the still lifes of Étienne Cournault. To close the exhibition, a small abstract pastel by Zoom Walter testifies to the fascination of contemporary artists for this technique.

The least we can say is that this museum is full of treasures. We put nearly 2:30 am to see everything, the afternoon passed at full speed. We recover our personal stuffs remained in safety in the lockers dedicated to the entrance of the museum, then we regain our car parked near, on the carpark of the Champ de Mars. On the way back, a ray of sunshine allows us to enjoy a walk in the Parc du Cours, a 28-hectare English-style park located on the banks of the Moselle. It is confirmed, Épinal does not miss attractions! We will have to come back soon to discover the other secrets the city has in store for us.