Domaine de Goncourt started its life over 30 years ago when the areas between Chalons en Champagne and Saint Dizier were found to contain huge deposits of gravel that were needed for the construction industry around France. The lakes were originally a bi-product of the this extraction and left alone to mature for 10 years or more until they were stocked with small carp with the idea for lakes to be used in the future for fishing.
Originally the Domaine De Goncourt Lakes were offered on a day ticket basis and local anglers started to fish the still quite immature lakes more regular. After a few years the lakes started to mature more, as did the fish and as the carp soon got to specimen size this made the complex become more popular. Domaine de Goncourt then started to marketed to the UK and Benelux carp anglers, this saw an influx of fishermen from all around Europe which saw its reputation grow even more.
Around 14 years ago Pascale Briallart took over the reigns of the complex and pushed the complex forward by adding "the personal touch". Her drive and passion for carp is unsurpassed by any carp angler that has walked on the Goncourt complex, this can still be seen today by her constantly striving to produce one of the best carp angling complexes in Europe.
Pascale was soon joined by Maxime Briallart who is a former French carp angling champion. This added the perfect ingredient to Domaine de Goncourt as Maxime brought with him an anglers point of view to what was required within a fishing complex. So, now we see both Pascale and Maxime working to push Domaine de Goncourt forward for the next 10 years with their enthusiasm and drive to fulfil the modern day carp anglers needs.
All of the lakes on the Goncourt complex are between 20 and 30 years old so they are mature gravels pits with all the normal features you would expect from a lake of this age. The lakes were dug by JCB extraction which remove the first 1 metre of earth down to the seam of gravel. This seam is normally 2 - 2.5 meters in depth and once the gravel is extracted then the lakes are left to fill naturally with water from underground.
The lakes have been left to mature naturally and were all stocked between 18-25 years ago with fingerling carp which have now grown to over 70lb. Additional stockings of carp have taken place by Pascale Briallart over the last 10 years to keep the strain of carp varied for all the anglers visiting Goncourt.
Domaine De Goncourt can boast a repeat booking percentage of more than 80% each year due to the 9 varied lakes on offer with many of these booking the same lake each year and also taking another booking for one of the other lakes on offer within the complex. This is due to the superb facilities and service that we offer to it’s visiting anglers. The complex once had a reputation for the incredible pies that I used to bake for my customers every week. Sadly this has now stopped due to sheer volume of anglers on the complex each week but if you are lucky enough to be celebrating your birthday while staying on the Goncourt complex then you may just sample one of these incredibly baked patisseries as a birthday surprise.
We have had an association with La Botte for the last 10 years and are pleased that it will now be under the total control of our management, This venue has everything that all the other venues have to offer in one lake, with its big Common and Mirror Carp. Then combine this with the stock of carp within this 40 acres venue and you can see why we are so excited for the future of this recent addition to the Domaine de Goncourt complex.
So, please come and take a look at what Domaine de Goncourt has to offer and we hope to see you on the bank with us soon…
