A wetland valley named for the lark

The story of Étang de la Loy is written in its name and in the water itself. Long before it became a place to stroll, this pond was a working larder: records note it supplying fishermen as far back as the 13th century, when its waters teemed with common bream, carp, tench, perch and pike. That old fishing heritage survives in the wide, low shape of the lake and the earthen dam that still holds it in place.↗↗

More recently the site has been given back to nature. After extensive works to restore the valley, aquatic plants and animals have been slowly reclaiming this humid hollow, turning what was a simple mill pond into a layered wetland of open water, marsh and dense reedbeds. The name 'la Loy', echoing the skylark, now suits a place where birds rather than boats have the run of the shore.↗

Where to look for birds

The lake's greatest draw is its feathered residents, and a slow walk around the edges can turn into a surprisingly rich birdwatching outing. The open water is much sought after by the great crested grebe, the coot and the grey heron, all of which find here a calm and well-suited home. Keep your eyes on the reed margins, where the closely protected reedbed shelters shyer species such as the reed bunting and the reed warbler, the latter weaving its nest into the tall stems with the balance of an acrobat.↗

The small islands raised in the water are no mere landscaping flourish. They were created deliberately to give the rare Sandwich tern a safe roost out of reach of predators, and the birds quickly took to them. Visiting the site is a lesson in quiet courtesy: the lake is a refuge, and staying on the paths and lowering your voice helps keep the colony undisturbed.↗

Walking the loop and beyond

The most straightforward way to enjoy Étang de la Loy on foot is the family-friendly 'Tour de l'étang de la Loy', a moderate 8.7 km circuit that climbs gently out of the nearby centre of Bussy-Saint-Georges, passes the lake on its way and returns toward the RER station; allow roughly two and a half hours and you can also tackle it by bike. The route is gentle enough for children and offers the lake as its green heart.↗

For a longer day out, the lake anchors a network of signed country walks. The Coderando77 'Vallée de la Brosse' route traces the stream to Étang de la Loy, crossing a footbridge to follow the shore before walking the dam and continuing on to the Parc culturel de Rentilly and back via Étang de la Broce. A still more ambitious circuit links Rentilly, Guermantes and the Ru de la Gondoire over about 20 km, reaching the lake along the left bank of the Brosse and leaving it by its dam.↗↗

The lake also forms a scenic waypoint on the Chemin des Étangs, a 17 km waymarked path between the Lagny-sur-Marne station and the Torcy RER station, where walkers skirt its right-hand bank before heading up a long tree-lined avenue toward the park of Rentilly.↗

Picnics and a cultural neighbour

If you would rather linger than stride, Étang de la Loy is named among the local picnic spots, perfect for spreading a blanket by the water after a short walk. The setting is peaceful and open, with the reedbeds and the broad sky of the Brie giving a sense of space that the surrounding new towns rarely offer.↗

Its proximity to the Parc culturel de Rentilly–Michel Chartier makes for an easy pairing. The grand park, with its château and its programme of exhibitions, concerts and events, sits a short walk away along the tree-lined paths, so you can combine a morning among the reeds with an afternoon of culture without ever needing a car.↗↗

Planning your visit

Access to the lake is free and it is open every day all year, so there is no ticket and no timetable to work around. The path is best taken slowly and quietly, especially near the islands and reedbed where nesting birds are most easily disturbed.↗

For walkers, GPX tracks for the Coderando77 routes are available to download, and the trails are waymarked, which makes it simple to extend a visit toward the Brosse valley, Étang de la Broce or the park of Rentilly. The RER A station at Bussy-Saint-Georges is the natural public-transport starting point for reaching the lake on foot.↗↗