Lac de Vouglans
Lac de Vouglans is not only the third largest man-made lake in France at 35km long, it’s an amazing adventure playground too !
Lac de Vouglans - giant emerald of Jura.
Lac de Vouglans is not only the third largest man-made lake in France at 35km long, it’s an amazing adventure playground too ! The wooded shores of this immense stretch of emerald water make it a very popular destination for summer holidays by the water. From Pont-de-Poitte to Vouglans dam, the huge winding stretch of fresh water is the venue for every type of water-based activity with three ports (Meix, Mercantine and Saisse) and three sandy beaches.
Welcome aboard the ‘Louisiane’ for an enchanting cruise on the lake of submerged villages and endless leisure activities. Fed by the River Ain, the dam was completed in 1968 after 5 years of construction. It is 103 metres high, the 3rd largest dam in France in terms of reservoir capacity, holding 600 million m³ of water. It was the first arch dam to be designed with purely horizontal arches in a spiral shape.
Vouglans dam and its drowned villages
The Vouglans dam is now over 50 years old, yet there are still local inhabitants who recall its opening with deep emotion as they remember drowned villages, painful separations and profoundly changed landscapes… It is easy to forget the fate of drowned villages like Chartreuse de Vaucluse which lies beneath the turquoise waters of the lake which has become a paradise for swimming, fishing, walking and water sports.
Legend has it that it is possible to see the top of a steeple at the bottom of the lake ! It belongs to Chartreuse de Vaucluse, a 12th century abbey built by Carthusian monks, which was submerged by the waters of the lake, much to the delight of diving enthusiasts !
Lac de Vouglans - a dream destination for water sports enthusiasts
Lac de Vouglans is the venue for a myriad of activities, starting with water sports. Motor boats (with or without a permit), electric boats, catamarans and pedaloes can be hired ; you can also go canoeing, sailing, swimming, fishing and have a cruise on the lake.
For landlubbers, different footpaths and cycle tracks run around the lake.
If you prefer exploring by car, a road runs around the lake with viewing platforms like those at Regardoir and Roche aux Corneilles from where you can admire the meanders of the lake surrounded by majestic forests stretching as far as the eye can see.
Discover other Gites de France destinations in the Jura : the spa town of Lons le Saulnier, the art and History town of Dole, Chateau Chalon"
