The Eawy Forest

Hats off to those who can pronounce its name on the first try without spelling it out! Eawy is an old French word, meaning “water”, and indicates that it is a “humid” place. This magnificent forest of the Pays de Bray is one of the largest beech forests in France. In all seasons, it offers magnificent panoramas and colors for walking and all nature activities.

In all seasons, it offers magnificent panoramas and colors conducive to walking and all nature activities. Whether on foot, by bike or on horseback, you will appreciate the magnificent beech trees, some of which are remarkable, and will probably have the chance to cross paths with a wild animal (doe, stag, fawn, wild boar…). The many landscaped sites and picnic tables, such as Carcahoux or the Puits Merveilleux, allow you to spend good times with your family.

His particularity, it is crossed by the Alley of Limousins, a straight breakthrough of 14 km through the vegetation.

A little history...

The Eawy forest is a remnant of the great forests covering the region before the year 1000 and victim of the great clearings. It was in the possession of the Dukes of Normandy, and seriously damaged during the Hundred Years’ War.

During the Second World War, the forest shelters at Val Ygot (Ardouval), V1 launching pads of the German army. The damage caused by these military installations and by Allied bombing aimed at destroying them was repaired by the Germans after the conflict; the ravaged areas were reforested with conifers.

The forest massif was for a long time a source of wealth for the inhabitants of the region, supplying wood to many sawmills and glass factories. The quality of oak wood attracted many huchiers who came to settle in villages near the forest from the Middle Ages. These huchiers made chests, called huches, liking noble woods for their realization.