The ponds and sheds of Hoste
The charming village of Hoste hides many surprises. If, upon arrival, the landscape is already breathtaking with its two large ponds, it is only by venturing out on foot that its golden nuggets are revealed.
The so-called “top” pond, which can be seen from the road which connects Hoste to the village of Cappel, is the larger of the two ponds. At the water's edge, an ornithological observatory offers a breathtaking – and discreet – view of the species that thrive here. It is an essential stop on any good walk, especially for naturalists and wildlife photographers. Great bittern and little bittern hide in the phragmites, while great crested grebes parade on the calm waters.
The so-called “du bas” pond, at the exit of the village towards Puttelange-aux-Lacs, is even more secret. Although its dike still houses an authentic sluice room of the Maginot Aquatic Line today, this is not what makes this pond so popular. The path that leads to the pond is lined with trees on all sides, creating a refreshing shade and, between the foliage, fishing sheds colored like so many pearls on the water's edge offer a spectacle that is rare to find elsewhere.
