This circuit will lead you to discover the magnificent location of the source of the Marne, the Grotte de Sabinus (the Sabinus cave), as well as the impressive dry stone snail of Cohons.
The source of the Marne is situated at a height of 419m at the Marnotte corrie. It covers a distance of almost 525 kilometres (of which almost 161 are in the Haute-Marne region) before reaching the Manche.
Considering the Pays de Langres and the 4 lakes as the Region of Sources, it is interesting that its rivers do not have strong flows. In the case of the Marne, the figure is quite modest, reaching only 28.1 m3/s in Saint-Dizier (yearly average).
The Snail of Cohons is one of fifteen similar dry stone structures that can be found in the south of Haute-Marne.
Stemming from the oldest “labyrinthes-buttes” traditions, the “Snails” are in a truncated cone shape and the rim is supported by successive terraces, or in other words, a spiral path which goes from the base to the peak. They appeared at the end of the Revolution and more would be made in the south of the Haute-Marne throughout the 19th century at the same time as the fashion for English gardens.
When country walks take place (both religious and non-religious), they often centre around the “Snails", which are original ornaments from the vernacular heritage of the Pays de Langres, reflecting the fashion and typical countryside activities which existed in the romantic era.
Whether they're used for fun or for function, the “Snails” all have peaks which from belvederes, which provided original views and playful lines in olden times, however, these are very difficult to reproduce now.