Lac d’Eguzon
A family and/or sporting destination ‘par excellence’, Lac d’Eguzon is the largest lake in the Centre-Val de Loire region covering an area of 317 hectares and 17km long ! It has a genuine air of Brittany with yachts moored up in a little creek, surrounded by beautiful countryside.
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Explore the largest lake in the Centre-Val de Loire region
It has a genuine air of Brittany with yachts moored up in a little creek, surrounded by beautiful countryside. But this is the Creuse Valley albeit with a different atmosphere from the rest of the department - a seaside holiday just a stone’s throw from the Limousin ! People come to Eguzon to enjoy the lake, sail or water ski on it, swim or fish in it and also to walk around it, along more than 300km of marked footpaths. Eguzon also has one of the largest dams in Europe. The lake is man-made and also known as Lac de Chambon after the hamlet which lies 60 metres below its surface. The area is famous for its chestnuts (there is a festival every year), potato cakes and ‘poirat’ a dessert made from pears, cream and pastry - absolutely delicious !
Lac d’Eguzon and the Vallée des Peintres have some of the loveliest spots in in Berry… A blue and green holiday paradise !
Lac d'Eguzon, a host of water sports and beaches
Lac d’Eguzon offers a wide range of water sports : sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, canoeing, paddle-boarding, tubing and pedaloes… not forgetting walking, rock climbing and mountain biking. There are several lakeside beaches : Plage de Chambon (Eguzon-Chantôme) has lifeguards in July and August and a fun waterpark with floating bouncy castles and catapult. On the other side of the lake : Plage de Bonnu (Cuzion) and Plage de Fougères (Saint-Plantaire). The lake is a category 2 fishing lake (permit required) with many carnivorous and white fish which can be caught from the bank or a boat. The village of Eguzon-Chantôme has a museum dedicated to everyday life and trades in the Bas- Berry from the late 18th century to the first half of the 20th century : the Musée de la Vallée de la Creuse. Sitting on benches in the old school classroom is an amazing experience for children ! Continue on up the hill of hairpin bends to the viewing platform at the dam with superb views of Lac d’Eguzin and the dam. You can visit the interior of the dam which was opened in 1926 to supply Paris with electricity ! This was the first time in France that electricity had been carried such a long way to a town and from a hydroelectric power station.
Free discovery tours of the hydroelectric power station and dam at Eguzon take place every Wednesday and Thursday (booking is required). A piece of advice ! Don’t miss the Fête de la Châtaigne (chestnut fair) at the end of October when the whole village celebrates for several days.
Château de Chateaubrun, Rocher de la Fileuse, Forteresse de Crozant and Boucle du Pin around Lac d'Eguzon
Continue on your way to explore the shore of the Lac d’Eguzon. You will see several castles, firstly Chateaubrun, a privately-owned castle and listed monument since 1926. George Sand said of it : « From the top of this keep, you discover the finest panorama in France ». It was founded between 1180 and 1208 by Hugues de Lusignan. Today it has been restored and houses a collection of works by its owner, the potter and sculptor Guy Baudat. His monumental, quirky sculptures are shown at their best in this historic setting which brings out their strength and message (visits possible with the Office du Tourisme).
Next up is Bonnu castle, worth stopping for even if it can’t be visited ! One of the most beautiful spots in Berry is just closeby – the Rocher de la Fileuse whose steep cliffs overlooking the Creuse Valley offer magnificent views of the confluence of the Rivers Creuse and Sédelle and the Forteresse de Crozant. A short 10 minute walk takes you to a rather surreal place with rocks piled one on top of the other. Superb !
A favourite haunt of painters from the Crozant School, the Rocher de la Fileuse is also popular with rock climbers and walkers. Continuing on towards the Limousin, the boat-shaped rocky promontory on which the Forteresse de Crozant was built has been known to man since the dawn of time. Other attractions include the Arboretum de la Sédelle and the Hôtel Lépinat which offers an interactive journey through the works of artists who came to seek inspiration from the scenery of the Creuse. A little inland from the river lies the Château de la Prune au Pot at Ceaulmont-Les Granges where the viewing platform in the church has amazing views of La Boucle du Pin.
Stop for some refreshment at Plage de Montcocu beach (Baraize) at the foot of cliffs which dare devils use as a diving board ! We almost forgot to tell you about an institution, la Vedette !! This is the pleasure boat which gives a different view of the many attractions along the 24km shoreline of Lac d’Eguzon, from the Hotel du Lac (Saint-Plantaire) to Eguzon dam.
« Tubing is a great activity for children, teenagers and grown-ups too, fun and laughter guaranteed !! » say Edwige and Laurent owners of Gite du Lac at Eguzon-Chantôme.
To get to Lac d’Eguzon, take A20 Paris-Toulouse autoroute (toll-free in the Indre département), come by train to Argenton-sur-Creuse (22km) or by plane to Limoges airport (90km). A full programme of events take place in the area all year round."
