At the beginning of the 19th century, the millstone activity in Fertoise became industrialized and took off. The Ferté-sous-Jouarre subsoil had siliceous rocks from Brie, and the Bois de la Barre quarries were used during this industrialization.
A former place where millstone was extracted, the Bois de la Barre hillside site is an ideal place for hikers.
Since 2003, the General Council of Seine et Marne and the municipality of La Ferté-sous-Jouarre have opened the "Sensitive Natural Area of the Bois de la Barre", which offers an educational trail to discover the fauna and flora of the site, and of course the work carried out on the stone extracted from this land.
The afforestation of the Bois de la Barre is marked by stands that have naturally colonized an environment transformed by man, at the time of its exploitation for millstone. The undergrowth totals 165 plant species.
It offers beautiful expanses of spring plants. Among the fauna, it is possible to observe mammals, as well as protected species, such as the Spotted Salamander.
This educational circuit allows the walker to discover this cultural and ecological site, anchored in the history of La Ferté-sous-Jouarre.