The Chartreux eat fish

   Amongst my many discoveries this summer, I had the opportunity to visit the Aiguenoire meres. A few times a year, the owner opens his doors via the Saint Laurent du Pont tourism centre to small groups in order to visit his domain and its history. Registering is done at the tourism centre, and for €2, we had the pleasant surprise – at the end of the walk – of a drink and a slice of sugar pie. Yum ! I recommend the fire-cooked sugar pies from the Cottère bakery !

   On the property, there are also two granges – one of which has been beautifully renovated and can be seen from the road. An “agricultural” building, it served the purpose of supplying food to the monks in the Grande Chartreuse convent. There was land clearing, exploitation of the lands, crop improvements, and livestock rearing. The second one was used to offer a welcome place for pilgrims or merchants.

   The meat-avoidant Pères Chartreux created, between 1600 and 1650, artificial meres in Aiguenoire to supply themselves with fish (tenches, perches, pikes, carps…) and their activity was prosperous until the war. Then, the meres were somewhat abandoned. Empty, they served as tree plantations. In the 50s, the owners (who are the ancestors of the current ones) decided to refill them. After many long years and many accommodations to plug the leakages and re-establish the ecosystem, there are now four beautiful meres where fishing clubs come to meet.  

   The first mere, the biggest, is the one that receives the water supply before redistributing it to the other three. The fauna (muskrats, herons, frogs, dragonflies, rabbits…) is as rich as the flora. Seeing this calm mere does not betray the work that has to be done to keep the balance in fish or plant species. Some plants are too invasive – Mr Bethnod therefore introduced a specific variety of “cleaner” fish. Now these need to remain in check so that they don’t overrun the classic species that the fishermen enjoy. The grey heron is also large consumer and gives no choice other than co-habitation.

   The Granier reflected on the water gives this sensation of not knowing which way is up. The average depth of this pool is between 1m and 1m30.

   The aerial damselflies make the most of the summer heat. To differentiate themselves to dragonflies, they have wings at 90˚ to the body. Observe how the damselflies close their wings along their body. 

   At the very end of the property, the neighbour also has a magnificent building with mere. This location was once a turnery where wooden boxes for the Elixir de Chartreuse, supports for razor pouches, as well as canes were made – an activity that was popular for a long time in this area.

   Regarding management, what needs to be known is that any stretch of water dug before 1880 is considered as ‘impounded water’. This means that the owner can do what he wants with it; empty it and do whatever works he wants without any previous authorisation.

3/08/2012 Les Etangs d'Aiguenoire, pliane de Saint Laurent du Pont/Entre2Guiers