The story
The "Clearing of Madness" was renamed as such in 2025.
Previously, the place was better known as "The Ponds of Madness" or simply "Madness".
In the early 1990s, a dream took shape in the heart of nature.
Mr. and Mrs. Dekergariou envisioned a unique place, a space where water, greenery, and play would come together to offer visitors a timeless experience. Thus were born the Étangs de la Folie (Ponds of Madness) and the mini-golf course: a project conceived with passion, intuition, and a love of the landscape.
To bring this vision to life, they entrusted its realization to Giovanni Russolo. A craftsman of the project, a patient and inspired builder, he shaped the ponds, designed the pathways, and structured the spaces. Stone by stone, curve by curve, he transformed an idea into a living, welcoming, and sustainable place.
Years pass, seasons follow one another, and the site becomes a landmark for families, walkers, and leisure enthusiasts. Today, Giovanni Russolo's descendants ensure its operation and transmission.
The history of the Étangs de la Folie is therefore not just the story of a place:
It is the story of a family, a heritage, and a shared vision.
A true coming full circle, where the past and the present respond to each other to continue writing the future.
Tracy-le-Mont & l'Ollencourt
Place called La Folie
A SYNTHETIC HISTORY OF TRACY-LE-MONT
Tracy-le-Mont is a commune in the Oise department, located approximately 16 km east of Compiègne, between the Oise and Aisne valleys, on the edge of the Laigue forest. Its origins are ancient: the name "Trapiacum" is mentioned as early as 815 during the Synod of Noyon, and the discovery of a Merovingian cemetery in the hamlet of Cosne testifies to a very early settlement. In the Middle Ages, the land of Tracy was part of the seigneury of Tracy-le-Val and was notably under the jurisdiction of the Templar commandery of Éterpigny.
In the 19th century, Tracy-le-Mont experienced significant industrial development linked to brush making: brush factories were established, particularly around factories like the one in Loonen, employing up to 2,000 people at their peak, making Tracy a major center for fine brush manufacturing. During the First World War, the town suffered heavy damage: it was invaded in August 1914, then bombed several times, and many inhabitants were evacuated. After the war, a national cemetery was created in Tracy, bringing together more than 3,000 soldiers who fell during the conflict.
Tracy-le-Mont also has a rich religious heritage: the Saint-Brice church, rebuilt after the war, has 13th-century baptismal fonts, and the village is home to several traditional calvaries.
SUMMARY HISTORY OF THE PLACE CALLED LA FOLIE
The name "La Folie" appears in local archives as a hamlet or a rural road, depending on the period.
There are also ancient references to Templar properties in the region, with hamlets named "La Folie" belonging to parishes linked to the Templars.
Thus, although there is no large historical building like a castle in "La Folie", this locality is well established in the communal fabric.
The rural road that crosses this place is still called the rural road of La Folie today.
The term "folie" is a fairly common place name in France, and its meaning can vary considerably: sometimes it refers to a country house, a small pavilion, a wood, or even light structures of the "folies" type (small shelters with groves) in the 18th century. Studies on Templar estates in Picardy include references to possessions in the Tracy-le-Mont area. It is possible that the place name "La Folie" has an ancient connection with the Templar estates in the area.