In the heart of the Champagne region, Aube is a 100% slow tourism destination. Everything is there to satisfy your desire for something different: the nature, the rich and diverse landscapes, the personalities who live there… We have put together a selection of activities for you. Close to Paris, but far from its hustle and bustle, everything is possible in the Aube en Champagne when it comes to slow tourism.
Long live the wind!
In Dosches, both the miller and the mill are young and 100% local. At the controls of his old mill (which was rebuilt a few years ago), Grégory will show you the secrets of the new miller. You will then discover all the stages of the traditional production of the Dosches windmill flour. You will even be able to buy the flour and make your own bread at home with the help of Gégory and Gaëlle. The best part: if the wind is out, you can experience the grinding of the wheat into flour from inside the mill!
Unusual accommodation in the countryside
The panoramic windows of the cute wooden hut set in the Champagne vineyards let in the surrounding nature. With the tiny house Parcel, enjoy the relaxing solitude of your stay and then set off to discover the exceptional terroir of Les Riceys, the only village with 3 AOCs: Champagne, Rosé des Riceys and Coteaux champenois.
If you are looking for adventure, choose to sleep in perfect communion with nature in the bucolic Cabanîleset in the middle of the Château de Brantigny pond.
Discover all our unusual accommodation offers and take the time to disconnect with a room immersed in nature.
Aube turns the wheel
From the deep forest of Orient to the banks of Lake Amance, Slooly all-terrain scooters fear no obstacle! Firmly attached to the handlebars, you are on your way for a breathtaking ride with commentary through the thousand faces of the Aubois countryside: you can explore meadows and orchards and stop for a picnic on the dyke. No need to push: the electric trott’s adventurous look will propel you effortlessly and silently for almost 50 kilometres! The advantage: 3 routes are proposed with varying degrees of difficulty and different landscapes. And it’s accessible all year round!
Become a truffle grower for a day in the Clairvaux forest
It is in the company of her dog Pino that Delphine from l’Empreinte des Fées invites you to discover the autumn truffles, an exciting and capricious mushroom. Bring your boots and let’s go for a morning in the heart of the Champignol forest, former forest of the Clairvaux Abbey, in search of truffles!
Read the story of this adventure in the food magazine 180°C. The plus : Back at the estate after a nice walk, your efforts will be rewarded by a tasting of truffle products. It is also possible to plan a convivial lunch of truffle dishes prepared by a local chef. All accompanied by the estate’s Champagnes.
Yellowstone, here we come!
At the Espace Faune de la forêt d’Orient, a park that looks like Yellowstone, your little tribe will be able to discover species that have come from elsewhere in semi-liberty. The impressive elks, deer, aurochs and the imposing European bison await you (unless they are hiding…). In autumn, special outings are even organised by the guides of the Parc naturel régional de la forêt d’Orient to observe cranes passing through the Aube or to watch the deer bellowing in the forest. Bonus: You can pick up a pair of binoculars free of charge at the reception of the Espace Faune to better observe the different species present in the park!
Unusual night in the park of the Castle of Vaux
At the Château de Vaux, escapes games punctuate the visits. The enigma plunges you into 1855, when a dark epidemic was ravaging the region. Vidocq and the twenty or so servants on the estate fall successively ill. It’s up to you to explore the castle and its outbuildings in order to solve the mystery. Each team has one hour and thirty minutes to get out of the castle before the epidemic and Vidocq’s wrath fall upon them. For those who really want to spend the night in the castle… It is possible, since it has recently opened its park to campers. An unusual night ideal for bivouac lovers who like to spend entire nights telling each other scary stories. The part reserved for thrill-seekers and nature lovers is located at the back of the park, where the spot offers an incredible view of the castle. A small fireplace is available to build a campfire and roast some marshmallows, just to complete the atmosphere. The best part is that you can contribute to the renovation of the castle by buying a symbolic slate and signing it with your name. It will then be installed among the 450,000 slates that will cover the future roof.
Meeting the local producers of the Pays d’Othe
The Pays d’Othe is full of local producers with unique and delicious products. It would be a shame to miss out on a slow tourism trip. Stroll along its hilly and wooded roads and take a break at the producers: to discover the good Duminil ciders, taste the refined jams of Catherine Manoël, taste the local beer “La Pale Is” from the Thibord Brewery (brewed in Palis) and bite into a piece of cheese from Chaourceon good bread made with the N’Othe flour. The Hotte farm, in addition to making you discover its apple-based products (ciders, juices…), opens the doors of its unique museum on the history of cider with its old-fashioned press. In short, for food lovers, this is the place to be! The plus: To make sure you don’t miss a thing, follow the Pays d’Othe flavour trail.
Slow tourism activities by bike …
Take advantage of the mild spring weather to go for a bike ride. Nogent-sur-Seine is 1 hour from Paris by TER and 45 minutes from Troyes and offers bucolic routes along the Seine. You can take advantage of this to have a lunch break at the restaurant La Rosita and discover the Camille Claudel Museum. Along the way you will be surprised by the calm and beauty of villages such as Pont-sur-Seine or Marnay-sur-Seine and its botanical garden. Tested and approved! The plus: the Nogent-sur-Seine Tourist Office offers bike hire (children’s, adult and electric-assist bikes) as well as various routes that can range from an hour’s ride to a day’s hike.
Nigloland, the theme park in the middle of nature
3rdbest European theme park, Niglolandis unique. Nature and heritage are preserved to allow children and adults alike to have fun in an exceptional setting. You can then immerse yourself in the forest by taking the new Noisette Express family rollercoaster or enjoy the panorama from the top of the Donjon de l’Extrême (just before the 100m free fall)! The plus: In spring, for the park’s reopening, the Krampus Expedition aquatic roller coaster will invite itself into the Swiss village, between the Alpina Blitz roller coaster and theSchlitt’ descent. It will plunge thrill-seekers into the world of this high-mountain explorer, who left in 1907 in search of the Krampus, a mythological beast that has terrified people for generations…
Your guide to committed travel in the Aube
Viatao, the first French publishing house specialising in sustainable tourism, has just published the first mini tourist guide in digital format for “green and ethical” travel in Aube en Champagne. You will find about fifty addresses of committed service providers to live unique experiences during your stay in the Aube.
This guide, available for the symbolic price of 0.9€, is becoming the essential tool for all “slow-tourists”!