The symposium will take place in Gérardmer, a small summer and wintertime resort located along a mountain lake surrounded by conifer forests, in the heart of the massif of the Vosges, alt. 700 m., in France. The site of Gérardmer is equipped with about 50 hotels of various standards (including three 4-star, ten 3-star, ten 2-star and around fifteen basic accommodation alternatives).
Gérardmer is located about 100 km south-west from Nancy. The most convenient way to get there is: by plane to Paris or to Strasbourg; then high-speed train (TGV) from Paris or Strasbourg to Nancy (about 1 hour and 30 minutes); from Nancy also by TGV or by a local train to Epinal (from 30 minutes to 1 hour); then bus shuttle from Epinal to Gérardmer run by the French railway company (SNCF) (about 20 minutes).
The conference sessions will be held in the hotel Beau Rivage, a 3 star hotel facing the lake, near the Casino, where lunch will be also served everyday.
Lunch is part of the symposium package, but lodging and dinner are not provided by the organisers, except for the conference dinner.
A special rate has been negotiated for participants (minimum stay 4 nights) who register by 31 March 2008 in the following hotels:
* The booking reference is Forest-EBGREF-Buttoud
Hotels located less than 15 minutes walking distance from the symposium venue:
4 star accommodation
Hotel Le Manoir du Lac, 59 Chemin de la Droite du Lac, 88400 Gerardmer
Phone: 33 3 29 27 10 20 Fax: 33 3 29 27 10 27
www.manoir-au-lac.com
3 star accommodation
Hotel de La Jamagne, 2 boulevard de La Jamagne, 88400 Gerardmer
Phone: 33 3 29 63 36 86 Fax: 33 3 29 60 05 87
www.jamagne.com
Le Grand Hôtel, place du Tilleul, 88400 Gerardmer
Phone: 33 3 29 63 06 31 Fax: 33 3 29 63 46 81
www.grandhotel-gerardmer.com
Lac Hotel Bleu Marine, Esplanade du Lac, 88400 Gerardmer
Phone: 33 3 29 63 38 23 Fax: 33 3 29 60 84 63
www.lac-hotel-bleumarine.com
Hotel Viry, 20 place des déportés, 88400 Gerardmer
Phone: 33 3 29 63 02 41 Fax: 33 3 29 63 14 03
www.gerardmer.net/hotel.viry
Hotel Gérard d’Alsace, 12 rue du 152 ème RI, 88400 Gerardmer
hone: 33 3 29 63 02 38
www.hotel-gerard-dalsace.com
2 star accommodation
Hotel La Marmotte, 50 rue Charles de Gaulle, 88400 Gerardmer
Phone: 33 3 29 63 38 99 Fax: 33 3 29 60 99 54
www.lamarmotte.fr
For a global vision of all accommodation available in Gerardmer, please go to:
www.sites-hotels.com/lorraine/hotels_Vosges/hotel_gerardmer.htm
The in-conference tour is part of the symposium package; it will bring the participants to the Regional Natural Park of the ‘Ballons des Vosges’, and will focus on the linkage between forestry and rural activities as a driver for local development, using the Vosges Mountain as an example.
For interested participants, a two-and-a-half day post-conference tour in the Vosges Mountain and in Alsace will provide an opportunity to understand the long tradition in associating forestry and rural activities in the Vosges, as well as the changes that recreation activities have brought in the public perception of forests in French and German cultures in an historically disputed border area.
The weather in the Vosges is usually pleasant at this time of the year, with average temperatures ranging from 15 Celsius (morning) to 25 Celsius (afternoon). As nights are cool and some rain is possible, a sweater and a light waterproof jacket may be useful. Comfortable walking shoes or mountain boots are a must for those participating in the tours
More information about Gérardmer and the Vosges is available at: www.gerardmer.net, info@gerardmer.net, www.vosges.fr, www.vosges.com, www.massif-des-vosges.com, www.parc-ballons-vosges.fr
More details will be provided later
