The most beautiful mountain lakes in France.

THE LAKE OF ALLOS :

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE MERCANTOUR NATIONAL PARK, THE LAC D'ALLOS IS THE LARGEST NATURAL LAKE IN EUROPE (2228M). LAKE OF GLACIAL ORIGIN, IT SHELTERS A POPULATION OF TROUTS AND CHARS. ITS WATERS ARE EVACUATED BY A NATURAL UNDERGROUND PASSAGE, WHICH LEADS TO THE SOURCE OF CHADOULIN, WHOSE WATERS JOIN THOSE OF THE VERDON. 

THE LAKE BLANC - CHAMONIX

THE LAKE Blanc IS ONE OF THE GREAT INESCAPABLE OF THE VALLEY OF CHAMONIX, IT IS LOCATED AT AN ALTITUDE OF 2352 M ON THE MASSIF OF THE RED NEEDLES. IT WILL ALLOW YOU TO DISCOVER A BREATHTAKING PANORAMA ON THE WHOLE UNIVERSE OF THE HIGH MOUNTAIN.

HOW TO GET THERE ?

THE LAKE IS ACCESSIBLE AFTER TWO HOURS OF MOUNTAIN WALKING FROM THE CABLE CAR OF LA FLÉGÈRE.

SOULIERS LAKE :

LOCATED IN THE QUEYRAS ( HAUTES-ALPES ) AT AN ALTITUDE OF 2493 METERS, THE LAKE OF SHOES IS ACCESSIBLE BY ALL VIA A SAFE ROUTE. FROM THE LAKE, YOU CAN ENJOY A MAGNIFICENT PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE QUEYRAS, INCLUDING THE MOUNT VISO. IF YOU ARRIVE TOP IN THE MORNING, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO OBSERVE THE CHAMOIS IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THE LAKE IS PERFECTLY ROUND AND IS SURROUNDED BY A GREEN LAWN, IT IS CALLED THE EYE OF THE QUEYRAS.  

HOW TO GET THERE ?

FROM THE PARKING OF THE CASSE DÉSERTE TAKE THE GR 58 LAC SOULIERS. THE ASCENT IN THE FOREST IS RELATIVELY SOFT. ABOUT 300 METERS AFTER THE FOREST, LEAVE THE GR IN DIRECTION OF COL TRONCHET THEN TURN ON YOUR LEFT IN DIRECTION OF LAC SOULIERS (YELLOW BEACONING). CONTINUE THE PATH UNTIL THE LAKE.

THE LAKE GENTAU :

LOCATED AT 1947M OF ALTITUDE, THE LAKE GENTAU IS A LAKE OF THE VALLEY OF OSSAU IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PYRÉNÉES-ATLANTIQUE. IT IS A GLACIAL LAKE POPULATED WITH FARIO TROUTS, CLOSE TO THE REFUGE OF AYOUS, THE LAKE OFFERS A MAGNIFICENT PANORAMA ON THE PIC DU MIDI D'OSSAU.  

HOW TO GET THERE ?

FROM THE PARKING OF THE LAKE OF BIOUS ARTIGUES, FOLLOW THE TRACK WHICH GOES ALONG THE LAKE, UNTIL THE PLAIN OF BIOUS. AT THE JUNCTION OF THE BRIDGE OF BIOU, LEAVE THE TRACK AND TAKE ON THE RIGHT THE PATH TOWARDS THE LAKES OF AYOUS (SIGN). AT THE EXIT OF THE FOREST, CONTINUE ON A PASTORAL ZONE, THEN A PROMONTORY FROM WHICH ONE FINDS THE LAKE OF ROUMASSOT, SKIRT THIS LAST ONE THEN CONTINUE THE PATH ALONG A WATERFALL UNTIL THE SECOND LAKE, THE LAKE OF MIEY. CLIMB A LAST PROMONTORY VIA A RATHER GENTLE ASCENT TO FINALLY ARRIVE AT LAKE GENTAU.

THE LAKE OF GAUBE :

THE LAKE OF GAUBE IS LOCATED IN THE HIGH PYRENEES ON THE COMMUNE OF CAUTERETS. AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1725M, IT IS DIRECTLY OVERHUNG BY THE PIC MAYOURET, THE GRAND PIC DES PALOUMÈRES AND THE PIC DE GAUBE. THE LAKE IS FAMOUS FOR ITS EASY ACCESS AND ESPECIALLY FOR ITS INCREDIBLE PANORAMA ON THE PYRENEAN SUMMITS.

 HOW TO GET THERE ?
THE LAKE IS ACCESSIBLE IN ONE HOUR WALK THROUGH THE PINES OR BY CHAIRLIFT (270 METERS CLIMB) FROM THE PONT D'ESPAGNE IN THE VALLEY OF CAUTERETS. 

THE LAKE OF ROSELEND :

LOCATED AT 1557M ALTITUDE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SAVOIE, THE LAKE AND DAM OF ROSELEND ARE PART OF THE BEAUFORTAIN'S MUST-SEES. IN THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAIN PASTURES WHERE COWS PEACEFULLY GRAZE, THE TURQUOISE WATERS OF THE LAKE EVOKE COLORS CLOSE TO THOSE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. HIKING TRAILS GIVE ACCESS TO SPLENDID VIEWS.  

HOW TO GET THERE ?

THE LAKE IS ACCESSIBLE BY CAR VIA BEAUFORT OR VIA THE COL DU PRÉ (THE LATTER IS FORBIDDEN TO BUSES AND CAMPING-CARS OF MORE THAN 6 T). 

LAKE GOLÉON :

LOCATED AT 2438 M OF ALTITUDE, AT THE BEGINNING OF A WIDE GRASSY VALLEY WHICH EXTENDS TO THE FOOT OF THE AIGUILLE DU GOLÉON AND THE AIGUILLE MÉRIDIONALE D'ARVES IN THE HIGH ALPS. THE LAKE OF GOLÉON OFFERS A BREATHTAKING VIEW ON THE MEIJE AND THE GLACIERS, THE AIGUILLE D'ARVES, THE AIGUILLE DE LA SAUSSAZ, THE REPLAT D'AMON AND ITS PEBBLE INSCRIPTIONS.  

HOW TO GET THERE ?

FROM THE HAMLET OF HIÈRES: FROM THE PARKING LOT, GO UP A PATH THAT RUNS ALONG A SMALL DRY TORRENT, TURNING INTO A PATH IN THE MOUNTAIN PASTURES. IT CONTINUES THEN BY CROSSING RATHER STEEP SLOPES. WE REACH THEN THE TOP OF THE LOCK WHICH MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE VALLEY SHELTERING THE LAKE OF GOLÉON.

THE LAKE OF ANNECY :

THE LAKE OF ANNECY NICKNAMED "BLUE LAKE" IS LOCATED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HAUTE-SAVOIE IN THE ALPS. IT IS FRAMED BY THE MASSIF DES BORNES AND THE MASSIF DES BAUGES. THE LAKE IS ESPECIALLY KNOWN FOR ITS PURITY, UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE CLEANEST IN THE WORLD WITH ITS TURQUOISE WATERS! THE LAKE OF ANNECY BENEFITS FROM A RICH AND PRESERVED ENVIRONMENT, IT SHELTERS NUMEROUS SPECIES OF FISH AND BIRDS THANKS TO THE NATURAL RESERVE OF THE END OF THE LAKE.  

HOW TO GET THERE ?

JUST GO TO THE CITY CENTER OF ANNECY, YOU WILL INEVITABLY COME ACROSS THE LAKE. YOU CAN WALK AROUND THE LAKE AND STOP AS YOU WISH. THE LEAST TOURISTY PART OF THE LAKE AND THE MOST NATURAL IS UNDOUBTEDLY "Le bout du lac " WITH ITS NATURE RESERVE. ALSO NOTE, YOU WILL HAVE A BREATHTAKING PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE LAKE OF ANNECY FROM THE COL DE LA FORCLAZ. IN SHORT, THIS LAKE IS A MUST-SEE!  

LAKE AIGUEBELETTE

THIS NATURAL LAKE IS LOCATED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SAVOIE ABOUT 10 KILOMETERS FROM CHAMBÉRY. UNLIKE THE LAKE OF ANNECY KNOWN FOR ITS BLUE WATERS, THE LAKE OF AIGUEBELETTE IS CHARACTERIZED BY ITS OFTEN GREEN COLOR. THIS EMERALD PEARL HAS A REMARKABLE ECOSYSTEM WITH MANY PROTECTED AREAS. AIGUEBELETTE IS ABOVE ALL A PARADISE FOR SWIMMERS, SINCE IT IS ONE OF THE HOTTEST LAKES IN FRANCE WITH A WATER TEMPERATURE THAT CAN REACH 28° IN SUMMER! IT IS ALSO DISTINGUISHED BY ITS ALMOST TOTAL ABSENCE OF WIND THANKS TO THE MOUNTAINS THAT SURROUND IT.

 HOW TO GET THERE ?

1H10 FROM LYON AND ONLY 10 MIN FROM CHAMBÉRY, THE LAKE IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE A43 HIGHWAY. 

LAKE PAVIN:

LAKE OF VOLCANIC ORIGIN LOCATED IN THE MONTS DORE IN THE MASSIF CENTRAL AT 1197 M OF ALTITUDE. THE LAKE IS EMBEDDED IN THE FORESTS AND IN THE MIDDLE OF SUPERB ROCKS, WITHOUT DOUBT THE MOST LAKE OF AUVERGNE. THIS LAKE WAS FORMED IN THE CRATER OF AN OLD VOLCANO COMING FROM THE ERUPTION OF PUY MONTCHAL. THUS, THE PAVIN LAKE WHICH SEEMS BOTTOMLESS IS AT THE ORIGIN OF MANY LEGENDS: ONE OF THEM WANTS THAT IT IS GOD WHO DROWNED THE CITY UNDER DILUVIAN WATERS IN ORDER TO PUNISH ITS INHABITANTS WITH THE LIGHT MORALS... OTHER LEGENDS TELL THAT, IF ONE THROWS A STONE IN FULL MEDIUM OF THE LAKE, IT WAKES UP AND THAT A THROW OF STONES ON DECEMBER 31 AT MIDNIGHT MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO HEAR THE BELLS OF THE OLD CHURCH OF BESSE RING... IN SHORT, IT'S UP TO YOU TO UNRAVEL THE MYSTERIES OF LAKE PAVIN  

HOW TO GET THERE ?

HALFWAY BETWEEN BESSE AND SUPER BESSE. PARKING LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 100M FROM THE LAKE. A WALK ALLOWS YOU VIA A SMALL PATH TO GO AROUND THE LAKE TO DISCOVER ITS MYSTICAL AND WILD BEAUTY (ABOUT 1 HOUR).