Discover Aube: lakes, stained glass and Champagne culture

Aube can be explored from many different perspectives: wetlands and lakes, stained glass, historic buildings, cycling routes and regional specialities each give a trip its own focus. When planning, it helps to start with a simple question: would you like nature, culture, the Côte des Bar landscape or cycling to shape your stay? The experiences below offer concrete ideas to help you choose your destinations.

Lakes, wetlands and rules on the water

The Forêt d’Orient National Nature Reserve covers 1,560 hectares of lakes and wetlands. It serves as a stopover for migrating birds and a wintering area. In the Forêt d’Orient Regional Natural Park, the Palais du roi Chêne educational trail offers a nature walk accessible to all visitors. Check local access information and the condition of the trail before visiting.

On the water, too, the rules depend on which lake and activity you choose. Canoeing and kayaking are permitted during navigation periods on Lac d’Orient and Lac Amance, from boat ramps and beaches outside protected areas. Different rules apply to stand-up paddleboarding: it is prohibited on Lac du Temple and Lac Amance, and permitted on Lac d’Orient outside the National Nature Reserve. Check the official rules for lake use before setting out. This will help you understand the different options without assuming that the rules for one lake also apply to another.

Stained glass and historic sites

The Route du Vitrail includes 70 stained-glass sites in Aube and Haute-Marne, and may add more over time. Historical, visitor and practical information helps you plan your visits. The map shows access arrangements for each listed building. Check these details before planning a visit. Troyes Cathedral contains 1,500 square metres of stained glass—a destination in its own right for anyone with a particular interest in this art form.

The former Cistercian Abbey of Clairvaux was converted into a prison in the 19th century under Napoleon. Today, the abbey offers guided tours throughout the year; check dates and booking conditions in advance. Auguste Renoir’s former home and studio in Essoyes is open to the public. Check visiting arrangements before you go. The Musée du Cristal de Bayel is located on the site of a former royal crystal works and features permanent exhibitions as an Écomusée. As the displays may change, check the latest exhibition information in advance.

Another place with a distinctive landscape setting is the Château de La Motte-Tilly: it lies on the edges of Aube, Seine-et-Marne and Yonne, overlooking the Seine. Visits explore the château’s history, its residents and its collections. This offers a different cultural focus from stained glass or the history of the abbey.

Côte des Bar and regional specialities

The signposted Champagne Tourist Route runs for 220 kilometres through the Côte des Bar landscape. It passes around 30 villages associated with Aube’s heritage. Check the precise route before setting off. Cadoles are a distinctive form of regional heritage: these dry-stone shelters are associated with Courteron, Gyé-sur-Seine and Les Riceys. Their construction offers a different way of seeing the landscape from the towns and buildings that tend to take centre stage on a visit.

Chaource also has a distinct regional identity. This AOP cheese is a soft cheese with a white bloomy rind, made from whole milk. Production, processing and maturation take place in a defined area of the Champagne Humide around Aube and Yonne. Those interested in food and its origins will find a distinctive way to connect with the region here, alongside its historic sights.

Cycling routes and getting there

The cycling options vary in duration, length and route. The four-day L’Aube à vélo route runs from Nogent-sur-Seine to Vendeuvre-sur-Barse, via Troyes and the Forêt d’Orient lakes. There are also 24 circular cycling routes on minor roads, ranging from 33 to 85 kilometres and covering a total of 1,474 kilometres. Another cycling route follows the Seine for 150 kilometres, with three quarters of it on dedicated traffic-free paths. These details help you compare a multi-day route, loops of different lengths and the proportion of traffic-free paths.

The Voie verte des grands lacs Seine et Aube connects Troyes with the Forêt d’Orient lakes and allows you to complete a cycling loop around Lac d’Orient. For rail travel, Troyes is served by the TER Grand Est Paris–Mulhouse line; the journey from Paris to Troyes takes around one hour and 30 minutes. Check the timetable and journey time for your travel date.

If you are looking for a hotel for your stay in Aube, first decide which of these types of trip matters most to you. Activities on the lakes have their own rules, access arrangements should be checked for some cultural sites, and cycling options vary considerably in duration and distance. Choosing a focus will help you plan the rest of your trip more effectively.

Discover more destinations: Sainte-Savine, Ruvigny, Rouilly-Sacey, Romilly-Sur-Seine, Nogent-Sur-Seine, Sainte-Maure, Bucey-en-Othe, Fralignes, Saint-Parres-aux-Tertres, Courceroy, Channes, Cormost, Marnay-sur-Seine, Ferreux-Quincey, Fontette, Mesnil-Sellières, Chaource, Saint-Benoît-Sur-Seine, Arcis-Sur-Aube, Rilly-Sainte-Syre, Fontaine-Les-Grès, Saint-Mards-En-Othe, Saint-Léger-Sous-Brienne, Isle-Aumont, Dosnon, Joncreuil, Pont-Sainte-Marie, Saint-Julien-les-Villas, La Loge-Aux-Chèvres, Ville-sous-la-Ferté, Montgueux, Longchamp-Sur-Aujon, Bessy, Mussy-Sur-Seine, Maizières-La-Grande-Paroisse, Maisons-Lès-Chaource, Laubressel, Mesnil-Saint-Père, Troyes, Saint-Nabord, Argancon, Bligny, Champignol-Lez-Mondeville, Bar-Sur-Seine, Avirey-Lingey, Buxeuil, Noë-Les-Mallets, Polisy, Merrey-Sur-Arce, Gyé-Sur-Seine, La Saulsotte, Vosnon, Saint-Pouange, Briel-Sur-Barse, Voué, Macey, Brienne-Le-Château, Chavanges, Les Croûtes, Montaulin, Géraudot, Lignol-le-Château, Lavau, Charmont-sous-Barbuise, Clérey, Bouilly, Précy-Saint-Martin, Paisy-Cosdon, Précy-Notre-Dame, Villechétif, Saint-Lyé, Vendeuvre-Sur-Barse, Chamoy, Racines, Saint-André-Les-Vergers, Piney, Poligny, Étrelles-sur-Aube, Essoyes, Soulaines-Dhuys, Virey-Sous-Bar, La Rivière-De-Corps, Villeret, Les Riceys, La Chapelle-Saint-Luc, Dolancourt, Créney-Près-Troyes, Buchères, Bréviandes, Bar-Sur-Aube, Barberey-Saint-Sulpice, Barberey-Aux-Moines, Aix-En-Othe, Bagneux-La-Fosse, Celles-Sur-Ource, Canton of Marcilly-Le-Hayer, Montiéramey, La Rothière, La Villeneuve-au-Châtelot, Saint-Thibault, Dierrey-Saint-Julien, Estissac, Ervy-Le-Châtel, Les Granges, Bayel, Lesmont, Couvignon, Vougrey, Villenauxe-La-Grande, Traînel, Montigny-Les-Monts, Brévonnes, Landreville, Dosches, Arsonval, Eaux-Puiseaux, Rosières-Près-Troyes, Baroville, Onjon, Fontaine-Mâcon, Auxon

For the broader travel overview: Champagne-Ardenne.