Lake Saint Etienne Cantales
Lac de Saint Etienne Cantales (lake) at the heart of the Cantal chestnut groves
Lac de Saint-Étienne-Cantalès is set among the beautiful, rolling, wooded countryside of the Chataigneraie du Cantal chestnut groves. It has a very indented shape with several peninsulas. This reservoir was created in 1945 with the opening of the Saint-Étienne-Cantalès hydraulic dam in the Vallée de la Cère. The lake, which is 20km from Aurillac, covers 562 hectares in the communes of Saint-Étienne-Cantalès, Saint-Gérons, Pers, Omps, Lacapelle-Viescamp and Saint-Mamet-la-Salvetat. It is the largest reservoir in Auvergne !
When the dam was opened, the water flooded the wooded valley of the Cère for 13km. The lake has a wiggly outline, is bordered by woodland and has three peninsulas. It is a popular water sports venue and is a great place to spend a day at the beach with family or friends, even though you are on holiday in the mountains !
Lac de Saint-Etienne-Cantalès offers a multitude of water sports and outdoor activities including beaches, lifeguard presence in summer, dinghy sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, water skiing and pedalo hire. Sailing and kayaking courses are available in summer. There are also footpaths along raised boardwalks to enjoy wonderful views of the lake and surrounding countryside.
On the Puech des Ouilhes peninsula on Lac de Saint-Étienne-Cantalès you will find a watersports centre : a floating swimming pool with lifeguards, a floating paddling pool, showers, toilets, play areas for children and beaches. Windsurfers, catamarans, dinghies, pedaloes, canoes, stand-up paddle boards and motorboats can be hired there from the Club Nautique du Pays d’Aurillac or the Cantalès Nautic Club.
Other beaches on Lac de Saint-Étienne-Cantalès include those of Rénac and d’Espinet which are linked by a 120m long Himalayan-style suspended footbridge. They also have water sport facilities, an adventure trail, bouncy castles and various play parks.
Lac de Saint Etienne Cantales : a paradise for fishermen and water sports enthusiasts !
There are several walking trails around the lake offering wonderful views and anglers can fish for carp, zander, pike, perch, largemouth bass, roach and rudd.
There is a good choice of Gîtes de France du Cantal accommodation near Lac de Saint-Étienne-Cantalès. The gite and B&B owners always recommend Saint-Étienne-Cantalès lake and dam for fishing, as a quiet place to relax out-of-season or to stay cool in summer. It is popular with local inhabitants and a super place to go at any time of year.
Here are a few hints to help you make the most of your visit to Lac de Saint-Étienne-Cantalès. Lifeguards are present at the beaches of Rénac, d’Espinet and Puech des Ouilhes in July and August. Don’t hesitate to ask on-site for more information. To hire water sport equipment, go directly to the relevant beach or contact the Offices de Tourisme at Aurillac or La Châtaigneraie who will tell you who to contact at the beach of your choice.
Finally, fishermen need to buy a fishing licence for a day, week or year. The lake is open for fishing all year round. To continue your fishing trip around Cantal, head for the Vallée de la Dordogne and the famous Barrage de l'Aigle dam"
