At the crossroads of four different regions (Burgundy, Champagne-Ardenne, Franche-Comté, Lorraine), the countries of the Basket is a maze of hills before small plains and valleys because of these slopes, the water hesitate before s' sell to the Mediterranean "... is an independent, secret and sober, a little shy, but not without an inner sweetness that is cleaner air, the lights in the shadow and the soul across something young and everlasting. Both sources of mid-slopes or in ravines, many rivers will run the world ...", here's what wrote Marcel Arland, Academician originating from Varennes - on-Amance.
Picturesque, but failed, the country of the Basket, located on the edge of the Haute-Marne, south of the Champagne-Ardenne, is rich in its flora, its tranquility and privacy of a nature conducive to walking , cycling, horse.
The cultivation and work of wicker have been one of the activities of the Country for more than three centuries... Fayl-Billot is one of the most important French basket makers. It is the headquarters of the only French basket-making school which has been training high-level artisans for over a century. So at Fayl-Billot, you can discover the Maison de la Basketrie (or Basketry Museum), entered through the Tourist Office. This cultural, historical and technical reference center presents traditional basketry (with rare works from the National Basketmaking School), but also innovative basketry in its shapes, colors, etc., a video on the crafts of wicker grower and basket maker, an exhibition on rattan...
It is open all year round during the hours of the Tourist Office (entrance through the Office):
From January to March: Tuesday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
In April: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
From May to September: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays and public holidays from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
In October: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
In November and December: Tuesday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Closed for two weeks during the end-of-year holidays.
Don't hesitate to come and meet the basket makers who will welcome you into their workshop, punch and pruning hook in hand!
In January: Feast of St Antoine. Every year in January, the basket weavers honor their Patron Saint, St Antoine. A corporate party takes place in turn in the municipalities of Grenant, Bussières-les-Belmont and Fayl-Billot. On this occasion, the village church is decorated with original and unusual basketry items. At the end of the religious office, the Brotherhood of Noble Osier Shapers marches past before the handing over of the Baton of St Antoine to an emeritus basket maker. The assistance is then found around the traditional "mulled wine".
In May: Spring Fair, Festi'Van (with Montbéliarde competition).
In August: Flea market garage sales which brings together more than 130 exhibitors (professionals and individuals) and welcomes 4,000 visitors.
The Land of Wicker is rich in fauna and flora. Please come and enjoy this quiet, generous and reassuring. On foot, horseback or ATV, you'll discover the landscape by changing the paths taken. Of marked trails and the arrow written County Plan of routes and hiking trails can discover in the path a willow, a routoir, to visit an artisan weaver in his workshop or to find the church of the thirteenth , wood Banal ...
