Lake Guerlédan

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Lake Guerlédan, a hotspot for outdoor activities !

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.

History and heritage buildings around the lake:

Lac de Guerlédan crtb_GUILLAUDEAU-Donatienne — Lovers of history and heritage buildings are in their element here with major attractions like the 12th century Abbaye de Bon Repos at Saint Gelven and the Forges des Salles at the heart of the Quénécan Forest. In addition, there are 3 gallery graves at Landes de Liscuis, the Musée de l’Electricité at Saint-Aignan and the typical village of Gouarec. Further afield, the towpath beside the Nantes-Brest Canal is a great place for walking, cycling and horse riding, and also water sports particularly at Glomel whose canoe slides are great for rafting. Other natural attractions to explore include the Gorges du Corong at Locarn which, along with the Landes de Lan Bern and Magoar-Pen-Vern (heathland and marshland) at Glomel, offer a complete change of scene. The Maison des Toiles at Saint-Thélo and the Atelier-Musée du Tissage (weaving workshop and museum) at Uzel reveal the secrets of the linen manufacture and trade for which several local communities were renowned.

It is impossible to be bored at Guerlédan, Carole who works for Gîtes de France Côtes d’Armor had the opportunity to go for a lunch cruise on the lake. « I loved this outing. It was really pretty and the surroundings were very restful. A real change of scene ! It is even more magical at the beginning of autumn when the range of colours around the lake is truly fabulous ».

How to get to Lac de Guerlédan?

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.