Forêt de Tronçais — Futaie Colbert

Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais

In 1669, Colbert promulgated his great ordinance on waters and forests and had Tronçais replanted to supply the king's navy with oak masts and frames. By an irony of history, these trees — too straight and too fine-grained for shipbuilding — made the forest's reputation in an altogether different use: since the 18th century, Tronçais oak has been sought after the world over for prestige cooperage — cognac, whisky, great wines — and for fine cabinet-making. The Futaie Colbert, the historic heart of the forest, today shelters remarkable trees that are individually named and mapped, some more than four centuries old, such as the chêne Stebbing (named after a 19th-century English forester) or the chêne Sentinelle. Recognised as a "Forêt d'Exception" by the Office national des forêts in 2018 — the first in Auvergne —, Tronçais is still managed on the principles of very long-rotation silviculture inherited from Colbert, a rare case in Europe of planned forest continuity over more than three centuries. The ponds created in the 19th century to float timber down to the Allier now complete a vast network of walks around this exceptional oak forest.

Getting there : Access by the D978a between Cérilly and Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais; waymarked paths around the ponds of Saint-Bonnet, Pirot and Tronçais.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound