Étangs de Vaux et de Baye, group of lakes in Nièvre, Burgundy, France

The Étangs de Vaux et de Baye are two man-made ponds in the Nièvre region of Burgundy, created to store water for the area. Walking paths encircle them, offering views of green fields, trees, and waterside vegetation where birds and wildlife live.

The ponds were dug at the end of the 18th century to supply water to the Canal du Nivernais. They were drained in autumn 2013 to improve fish management and reopened to fishing in 2015. The Vaux and Perchette ponds average 2 m deep, while Baye reaches 3 to 4 m behind its south-eastern dike.

The ponds were dug at the end of the 18th century to feed the Canal du Nivernais, and fishing remains their main use today. The 1.5 km Sentier du Martin-Pêcheur starts on the dike between the Vaux and Baye ponds, with signboards and a hide for watching birds. The 750 m Sentier du Héron Cendré begins near the hamlet of Vaux and ends at a second observatory.

The site is open year-round and accessible to visitors of all levels, with walking paths of varying lengths around the water and a flat dike path connecting the two ponds. Wear sturdy shoes, bring binoculars if interested in bird watching, and plan visits in spring and summer for the most wildlife activity.

The Étang de Baye keeps a constant level all year to serve its watersports base, while its bed is muddy and a ditch links it to the Canal du Nivernais through the south-east dike. The two main ponds were drained in autumn 2013 to improve fish management and reopened to fishing in 2015.