Lake Guerlédan

Winding through the heart of Brittany for 12km, Lac de Guerlédan is the largest artificial lake in the region. Its surroundings, shaped by man, have both great natural scenery and cultural attractions.

Part of the lake forms the boundary between Morbihan and Côtes d’Armor. Nestling low among the hills of central Brittany, it runs through the Blavet Valley revealing a different aspect of its personality around every meander. It is a great place for walking and swimming for all the family, as well as a venue for rock-climbing, water skiing and hiking.

Construction of Guerlédan dam, birth of the lake :

After the First World War, electricity was a rare and precious commodity particularly in rural areas. The idea of building a 40m high dam in the hamlet of Guerlédan to supply almost a third of Brittany with electricity was considered total madness. It took the audacity of sub-prefect Joseph Ratier, the energy and determination of the engineer Auguste Leson and seven years labour (1923-1930) for the project to become reality. This exceptional achievement for the time led to the creation of Lake Guerlédan. Today the dam, power station and reservoir provide supplementary electricity required at periods of peak consumption.



Outdoor activities in abundance :

With its air of a small seaside resort, Beau Rivage at Caurel has one of the largest artificial beaches on the freshwater sea of Lake Guerlédan and is also the departure point for a discovery cruise around the lake aboard the  «Duc de Guerlédan» !  Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy water skiing, canoeing, paddle boarding and pedaloes. The Anse de Sordan at St Aignan, a little creek tucked away at the edge of the Quénécan Forest, is also ideal for swimming and water sports with its beach, children’s play area, canoe and pedalo hire. There is a lakeside restaurant there too. The Anse de Guerlédan is 2km from Mûr-de-Bretagne, near Bois Cornec woods, and has a splendid view of Guerlédan dam. There are 12 sign-posted mountain bike circuits there and canoes and kayaks can be hired too. To reach the lakeside and explore one of the rocky promontories in Bois de Caurel woods, follow the narrow flights of steps past the Outdoor Leisure Centre, across the embankment and around the restored manor house at Porz Braz. This will bring you to the edge of the lake where there is a pontoon for fisherman (including those with reduced mobility). Landroanec is another good place for swimming and to hire canoes. The western side of the lake is definitely wilder. Tregnanton at Saint Gelven has several viewing points offering splendid views of the lake and the surrounding moorland and gorse interspersed with thick sheets of slate. Like all of Lake Guerlédan, Tregnanton is an exceptional fishing spot and there is a landing stage where boats can tie up in a little creek with a definite Norwegian air about it.

The RN164 dual-carriageway from Rennes through the centre of Brittany to Brest passes just north of the lake, which is 1¼ hours from Rennes. Carry on along the RN164 towards Brest for a short distance and you will find yourself not far from the Valley of the Saints to continue exploring the heart of Brittany.

Info for cyclists : Voie Verte (traffic-free ‘greenway’) n°6 runs through the region from Carhaix to St Meen Le Grand.