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Learn how to make yourself an all-wood object from the Vosges
- Pour vous, Epinal Tourisme c'est : Advice on how to discover the region through activities
- Your favourite local dish : Shredded donuts
- Your favourite local tourist site : The Port of Epinal
A building that makes the most of wood
Far from being a great handyman but loving to take up new challenges, I signed up for one of the workshops organized regularly on Wednesday afternoon or Saturday morning by the Xylolab.
The workshops can accommodate up to 4 pairs of 2 participants. The appointment was given at 2pm this Wednesday afternoon in the Hotel Innovation Bois, an innovative building architecturally and energetically exemplary, which aims to promote the creation of companies in the wood sector, to be a place of meetings and realizations of projects for both professionals and individuals.
We are welcomed with a coffee in a convivial space where all kinds of wooden objects manufactured by the various companies which took their quarters in this space which has what to allure all the in love ones with wood. A visit of the place follows.
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.
Cutting, drilling, assembling...
The workshop is divided into 4 main stages: cutting of parts, drilling, assembly and installation.
We start by cutting the pieces of wood needed to make our nesting box with a radial saw. We refer to our bible of the day, our cutting sheet, to measure the size of our pieces with a square. Let's start cutting: dexterity and concentration are required. As I have never handled this kind of machine, I am not very reassured. Fortunately Martin & François follow me closely and give me some advice to adopt the right gestures.
A whole range of state-of-the-art professional machines like you can't find anywhere else (not even at our grandfather's, as handyman as he may be) is at our disposal to allow us to screw and assemble the lower part of the dwelling that will serve as a shelter for our feathered friends. The only thing left to do is to attach the roof, so that it can be opened and cleaned up in the fall!
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.
An activity to practice alone, in couple or with friends
A moment of friendly sharing
A useful object made of local wood
Live others experiences
Julie & Zenon
Let yourself slide along the Moselle River away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life
- For you, Epinal Tourism is : Services for all, which allow you to discover Epinal from an educational, sporting and historical perspective !
- Your favourite local dish : The raspberry pie
- Your favourite local tourist site : The Parc du Château of Epinal
Boarding at the Port of Epinal
This Sunday afternoon we are welcomed at the nautical base GESN canoe-kayak, located at the Canal Bridge of Golbey (19th century structure), not far from the Port. Before boarding, a few recommendations are necessary. An instructor provides us with the essential equipment to prepare our journey on the water: life jacket, helmet, paddle and boat, but also a waterproof container to keep our personal items safe. We are ready to face the wave!
We have a choice of different routes and different levels of difficulty. For a first, we opted for the green route, called the "nature" loop in autonomy. The price to pay for 2h30 of disconnection in the middle of nature? 15€ for children under 18 or students and 20€ for adults.
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.
A snack on the Moselle river
During the descent, we discover a more agitated Moselle, which gives us some shivers, especially when we cross the hydroelectric dam of the Gosse! We moor our canoes on a sandy beach: the perfect spot for a well-deserved break! Nearby, we pick some mirabelles to make our snack. Before heading back to our arrival point, we let ourselves be tempted by an invigorating bath in the waters of the Moselle.
Our return is done by the Canal des Vosges and we can moor in all serenity at the Port of Epinal. We get our stuff back, which was kept in a locked locker for the duration of our ride, and enjoy a hot shower, which is welcome after these 2h30 rather sportive.
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.
A sport activity to practice as a couple, with family or friends
Courses adapted for all levels
The discovery of soothing landscapes and remarkable sites
Live others experiences
From ancient to contemporary
Discovering the Departmental Museum of Ancient and Contemporary Art
Sylvia & Daniel
Explore one of the most important museums in Lorraine
- For you, Epinal Tourism is : The opportunity to discover a destination with unsuspected treasures
- Your favourite local dish : Camerise juice
- Your favourite local tourist site : The Gentrey Mill
The allure of a large glass vessel
Looking for an indoor activity to do on a winter Sunday, we discovered the Musée d’art ancien et contemporain (Museum of Ancient and Contemporary Art), located in the heart of Epinal.
More than 30,000 objects and works of art, from prehistory to the art of the 21st century, are preserved in this 4,000m2 building with modern architecture. To our surprise, admission is free on the first Sunday of the month and a guided tour on a different theme is offered.
We are immediately captivated by this open-air museum, with a monumental glass nave. Arrived at the beginning of the afternoon and the guided tour taking place at 4pm, we are offered audio guides for 1€ extra. We choose this option in order to ensure us an optimal free visit.
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.
The beauty of pastels
We end our visit with the temporary exhibition. Until May 5, 2022, the museum is showcasing its collection of pastels. One of the most fragile techniques, sensitive to light but also to vibrations, which makes their presentation rare. We feel privileged to be able to enjoy it!
We enter a dark room with walls painted in a lilac hue that fits perfectly with the theme of the exhibition. The sunlight is filtered through images on the windows, giving us a mysterious and intimate atmosphere.
About thirty unpublished works are revealed, we are amazed by the quality and diversity of this collection.
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.
For children and adults alike
Free on the first Sunday of the month
Creative workshops for all audiences
Live others experiences
Nina
The future is in the plate
- For you, Epinal Tourism is : Discover and enrich the spinal culture & its surroundings
- Your favourite local dish : The Vosges salad
- Your favourite local tourist site : The Parc du Château
Welcome to the farm
This Saturday morning we set off on our electrically assisted bikes rented at the Port of Epinal to ride the Véloroute and enjoy a day trip to Bouzey. Our arrival is scheduled at 10am and we have booked a visit to the Aquaponics Farm of the Chaumousey Abbey. After riding along the lake, we arrive in front of the site where Noémie, the manager of the farm, welcomes us.
We enter a small store where products from the farm are sold directly: eggs from the 200 hens raised in the open air by Noémie, vegetables from the aquaponics system, koi carp or goldfish for the ornamental ponds and live fish for fishing. We also find products of local producers advocating a reasoned agriculture as fruit juices, honeys, lentils, flours, craft beers... About fifteen visitors join us to discover this enigmatic site.
An innovative concept unique in Europe
We discover a building entirely glazed, letting the first rays of the sun penetrate and we immediately arrive in front of large underground ponds where no less than 10 000 goldfish, tench, koi, common and mirror carp swim, the biggest of which weighs nearly 7kg. Behind the ponds, we can see an abundance of greenery.
However, let's get back to the subject: "aquaponics", what does it actually mean? "Aqua" refers to water and fish, and "Ponics" to the cultivation of plants above ground. In short, aquaponics is the cultivation of plants in symbiosis with fish.
After reviewing the fish: species, food, reproduction and feeding them with some sprouted lentils. We take a closer look at these vegetables that grow thanks to their excrements and to a well-functioning circuit working 24/7: fish > filtration > vegetables > fish. In France, there are three other farms of this kind but none of them uses these fish species.
Values in the spirit of the times
Autonomy & local: these are the values that this new generation farm proudly defend. Everything is natural and produced on site, including fish food. The farm is also self-sufficient in terms of water consumption.
This is also achieved through a reasoned cultivation of plants: In winter, the greenhouse is not heated and only root vegetables are grown. In summer, leafy vegetables replace them. Depending on the season, the farm never looks the same! We are curious to come back to see what it looks like at another time.
As we continue our visit, we observe three people busy filling trays with clay balls to plant salads and radishes. The children present are put to contribution for their great pleasure.
A place full of history
Three people to maintain more than 1500 m2 of crops? It doesn't seem like much to us! However, Noémie explains that this farm is above all a family story. Indeed, the former site of the Chaumousey Abbey was transformed into an agricultural farm by her grandparents. In 2019, it was taken over by Noémie after 9 years spent in the industry, at De Buyer Industries, a worldwide manufacturer of kitchen utensils.
So, to help her realize her dream and create her aquaponics farm, all generations have been a real support. She naturally tells us that her grandmother sewed the cloths on the farm. It is impossible to remain insensitive to her story.
It is time for us to go and eat at the restaurant La Plage, feet in the water.
Visits & training courses
The farm regularly organizes visits for the public of 1h30 on Fridays and Saturdays and group visits (schools, associations, etc.) during the week. Also note: Training courses to learn aquaponics.
A playful visit accessible to all
An innovative concept
A place where animals and plants meet
