The Marais of Misery
Located only fifteen kilometres from our Orly Draveil hotel, the marais of Misery is a small paradise for nature lovers.
A paradise for aquatic fauna and flora
Who would suspect such a preserved nature paradise so close to cities? Located near the Essonne, between the communes of Vert-Le-Petit and Echarcon, the swamp extends over 88 hectares of wet prairies, reed beds, old forest and water areas. There are more than 250 remarkable plant species, and nearly 140 different bird species, some of which are protected, such as the small blongios dwarf heron, the osprey, the black cormorant.…
Dug by the hand of human beings
This aquatic labyrinth of ponds and channels is in fact made up of former peats, which have been used to heat the region's and Paris inhabitants since the Middle Ages. This artificial landscape, created by man over the centuries and then restored to water when peat was no longer used, was bought back some twenty years ago by the department and has since been developed. Its ecological interest is recognised at European level.
Access to the swamp is free and regulated to preserve its ecosystem. Observatories have been installed, the platforms located along the GR and the Petit Marais observatory are open all year round. Access to the central quiet zone is only by guided tour, you can also travel in groups on traditional wooden boats along the channels.
Access :
Opening of the car park to access the observatory of Les Gravelles on Wednesdays from 9:30 am to 5 pm and from Saturday morning to Monday morning from 9:30 am to 9 am, except on public holidays.
Access by the road called "chemin de Misery" municipal road n°1 between Écharcon and Vert-le-Petit.
(photo by Essonne.fr)
A paradise for aquatic fauna and flora
Who would suspect such a preserved nature paradise so close to cities? Located near the Essonne, between the communes of Vert-Le-Petit and Echarcon, the swamp extends over 88 hectares of wet prairies, reed beds, old forest and water areas. There are more than 250 remarkable plant species, and nearly 140 different bird species, some of which are protected, such as the small blongios dwarf heron, the osprey, the black cormorant.…
Dug by the hand of human beings
This aquatic labyrinth of ponds and channels is in fact made up of former peats, which have been used to heat the region's and Paris inhabitants since the Middle Ages. This artificial landscape, created by man over the centuries and then restored to water when peat was no longer used, was bought back some twenty years ago by the department and has since been developed. Its ecological interest is recognised at European level.
Access to the swamp is free and regulated to preserve its ecosystem. Observatories have been installed, the platforms located along the GR and the Petit Marais observatory are open all year round. Access to the central quiet zone is only by guided tour, you can also travel in groups on traditional wooden boats along the channels.
Access :
Opening of the car park to access the observatory of Les Gravelles on Wednesdays from 9:30 am to 5 pm and from Saturday morning to Monday morning from 9:30 am to 9 am, except on public holidays.
Access by the road called "chemin de Misery" municipal road n°1 between Écharcon and Vert-le-Petit.
(photo by Essonne.fr)
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