Vieilles-Forges Lake

Centre disciplines

Canoe sprint Rowing Para canoe-sprint Para rowing

Description

In the middle of a quiet and protected natural setting, the Lac des Vieilles-Forges spans 150 hectares (3 km long and 500 m across). This man-made lake is situated 230 km to the east of the nautical stadium at Vaires-sur-Marne, where the Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing competitions will take place. It is located near Charleville-Mézières and the Belgian border and is easy to get to by car – with the motorway 20 just mins away –, plane (via the international airports at Charleroi or Paris, 1.5 hrs and 2.5 hrs away respectively) or train, with a TGV© station 20 mins away. The centre will give delegations exclusive access to: - the entire lake, - a gym, - a 1,250-m² multi-purpose space, - marked trails (mountain bike and jogging circuits) in the forest around the lake, - a massage room, - an audiovisual studio with Wi-Fi access, - 3 meeting rooms that can be arranged to accommodate 10 to 100 people, - 36-bed accommodation on site and high-end open-air accommodation (air-conditioned mobile homes and comfortable gîtes for 100 people) with the 4* MARVILLA PARKS campsite, - catering tailored to athletes (with chefs specially trained in nutrition) with the Bazeilles hospitality and catering college, - a multilingual team available to athletes 24/7, - a vehicle for travel off site. The construction of the centre makes it perfectly suited to the Paralympic disciplines and athletes (access and mats for wheelchair users, lift).   Discover more here : https://cd08.fr/videos/le-lac-des-vieilles-forges-centre-de-preparation-aux-jeux-de-paris-2024

Special features

In this pleasant wooded setting, the centre allows athletes to fully prepare, with:

– a 14-m floating boarding pontoon,

– a pontoon with low water level (tailored to parasports),

– a fixed pontoon for safety boats,

– ALBANO-style buoy system across 6 x 2,000-m lanes,

– distance markers every 500 m,

– mooring buoys,

– secure slipway,

– starting and finishing towers,

– parking for buses and trailers.

Several leisure activities, ideal for relaxation and team-building, are also available, including:

– water or land activities (paddle board, sailing boat, canoe or mountain bike hire on site), water and adventure parks and a multi-sports ground,

– a 250-m man-made beach.

Known for

Many canoeists and rowers from Team France (Etienne Hubert, Lou-Anne Caniard and Eddie Potdevin) regularly prepare for their international competitions on the Lac des Vieilles-Forges.

Rowing:

Every year since 2015, the lake has welcomed over 1,000 rowers as part of the Regional Youth Rowing Championship. Over 1,600 rowers competed several years ago at the French University Championship.

Canoeing:

In 2015, the Lac des Vieilles-Forges hosted the French Canoe and Para-canoe Sprint Championships.

Optional extras

Meeting room Internet access Infirmery Floodlit facilities Hospital nearby Physiotherapy room Film screening room Sauna Personal security service Vehicle hire service On-site accomodation