Extralac - 50th Anniversary of Lac du Der

Extralac: An Extraordinary Season for the 50th Anniversary of Lac du Der

In 2024, Lac du Der-Chantecoq celebrates its 50th anniversary with Extralac, a season of festivities of unprecedented scale. From May to November, the largest artificial lake in Europe (4,800 hectares) becomes the stage for nearly 200 events combining shows, sports challenges, concerts, workshops, games, and open-air cinema. This ambitious celebration, supported by the Lac du Der en Champagne Tourist Office in partnership with the municipalities of Saint-Dizier and Vitry-le-François, as well as Seine Grands Lacs, aims to make this anniversary a national event.

Seven Themed Weekends Throughout the Seasons

Extralac is organized around seven major weekends spread from May to September, each with its own theme:

• Inaugural Weekend (May): Festive launch at the port of Giffaumont with concerts, brass bands, pyrotechnic shows by the company Carabosse, giant kites by the company Porté par le Vent, sound and light fireworks, and the first Der Olympiads.
• Art and Gentle Mobility (June): Cycling Festival with marked routes, acrobatic trial shows, kite-making workshops, tricycle-riding singers "Über Hits," and ephemeral recycling centers.
• Pixel Art and Olympic Flame (late June): Dragon boat crossing, Color Run, multisport demonstrations on five animation sites around the lake.
• Musical'Été (July): Musical weekend with headliner concerts (Keen'V, Slimane, 90s-2000s nostalgia night) as part of the 25th edition of Musical'Été.
• Sport and Art (late July): Freestyle basketball with professional athletes, open-air bowling, "Hippodrome de Poche" circus show.
• Open-Air Cinema (August): Screenings of environmental documentaries and adventure films on a giant screen by the lake.
• Art and Memory (September): Tribute to the history of the lake and the submerged villages, immersive theater "Exoterritoires" by Cie Clair Obscur, exhibition, book fair, kayak excursions, and "Exit" circus show.

An Exceptional Nautical and Sporting Playground

Lac du Der offers a remarkable natural setting for nautical and outdoor activities. Throughout the Extralac season, visitors can try sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, water scootering, dragon boating, and diving with free introductory sessions organized on the lake's beaches. On land, the Der Olympiads offer team challenges in numerous disciplines: climbing, orienteering, cycling, archery, target shooting, free throws, and table tennis.

A Family-Friendly and Accessible Event

Extralac is designed as a family-friendly and open-to-all event. The majority of activities, sports introductions, and shows are free. Children benefit from dedicated workshops, games, and shows suitable for all ages from 7 years old. The Giffaumont-Champaubert nautical station is accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Lac du Der: A Natural and Human Heritage

Built between 1966 and 1974 to regulate the Marne River's flow and protect Paris from floods, Lac du Der-Chantecoq required the disappearance of three villages (Chantecoq, Nuisement-aux-Bois, and Champaubert-aux-Bois). Fifty years after being filled, this reservoir lake has become a major center for biodiversity, welcoming tens of thousands of migrating common cranes each autumn. The documentary "Le Der, une histoire entre l'Homme et la nature" retraces this unique history and is screened as part of Extralac.