Site d'observation de la nature de Davrey

The Davrey site obtained the ENS "Natural and Sensitive Space" label in 2025. Historically, the territory's waterways and their watersheds have been developed for various uses (exploitation of hydraulic power with mills, agricultural development with drainage, rectification of waterways, etc.). These developments have led to a significant degradation of the ecological quality of waterways, resulting in particular in: a loss of biodiversity in aquatic and wetland environments; a disconnection of wetlands from their waterways; a degradation of the physicochemical quality of the water; However, these environments have a major role to play both in terms of maintaining the local ecological balance (role as an ecological corridor, habitat and source of food for wildlife), and in terms of health (role as a filter for diffuse pollution) and public safety (slowing down floods). Thus, thanks to collaborative work between the Commune of Davrey and the Community of Communes of Chaourçois and Val d'Armance, the Syndicat Mixte du Bassin Versant de l'Armançon has created an ecosystem restoration project unprecedented in its scale and its assembly, in order to stop the degradation of natural environments in the territory. The hydromorphological restoration of watercourses is a major environmental issue. The restoration of the Armance and the Landion on the Davrey site has made it possible to reconnect the wetlands by creating in particular: 5 ponds; A 3-hectare wetland; 5000 m² of swales and spawning grounds. The main objective of opening to the public is to discover and raise awareness of aquatic and wetland environments, their ecologies, as well as their heritage and landscape interests. Thus, 6 thematic panels have been installed and address the following themes: Ponds, swales and wetland; Ornithology; Botany and aquatic plant species; Watercourses (habitats, typology); History of the valley's activity (particularly livestock farming); Wetlands and their interests. In addition, other educational facilities have been installed on the site, including: Two ornithological observatories allowing bird watching on the plateau; A path connecting the Association Foncière de Remembrement (AFR) path along the Landion and the AFR path along the Armance; A footbridge to cross the Armance River. Part of the wheelchair-accessible pedestrian route in the northern part is planned. This Landion and Armance restoration project, in addition to being beneficial for aquatic environments, fits perfectly into the local tourist dynamic. Indeed, there is a discovery walk in the commune of Davrey, allowing you to learn more about the village's heritage. This walk has a path, "Le chemin de la Prairie," which already allows you to walk alongside the Landion. The SMBVA project, which has restored and developed this path, will allow visitors to move around and better observe the typical fauna and flora of wetlands during this walk.

Last updated on 19/09/2025 - Office de Tourisme Othe Armance