Our take
A site listed as an Espace Naturel Sensible where the European otter lives, an almost flat 1 hour 30 walk round the lake, a bird observatory and a fishing jetty accessible by wheelchair.
A mountain lake at 1,142 m between Cézallier meadows and the Pinatelle forest. An easy walk round the lake, trout fishing, a bird observatory.
At 1,142 metres altitude, on the edge of the Cézallier, Lac du Pêcher spreads its 20 hectares between summer pastures and the firs of the Pinatelle forest. A former peat bog that became a pond as early as the Middle Ages, filled with water again in the 1970s.
The walk round the lake, a blue-waymarked loop of about 3 km, takes 1 hour 30 if you read the panels along the themed trail. An observatory lets you watch for the birds of the site, which is listed as an Espace Naturel Sensible (a protected natural area).
Swimming is not allowed: you come here for the peace, trout fishing (jetty accessible by wheelchair) and cows in the background. Herds cross the area, so it is better to leave your dog at home.
Why we love it
- Twenty hectares of water at 1,142 m, between summer pastures and the firs of the Pinatelle
- The observatory from which to watch for the birds of this Espace Naturel Sensible
- A trout fishing jetty accessible by wheelchair
- The panels of the themed trail, to read all the way round the loop
Top tip
Stop at the observatory with binoculars: more than 40 species of birds visit the site. And leave the dog at home, the herds on summer pasture cross the path.
Before you go
- Early in the morning, when mist still hangs over the water and you have the walk round the lake to yourself.
- The lake loop is about 3 km for 1 hour 30 of walking, waymarked in blue from end to end.
- Swimming is not allowed: you come here to walk, fish for trout and watch wildlife, not to get wet.
- Leave the dog at home, the herds on summer pasture cross the path.
- Bring binoculars in your bag: they make the difference between seeing the lake and seeing its birds.
Weather for the next 3 days
Today
10°/2°
3 mm · 39 km/h
Tomorrow
13°/2°
dry · 16 km/h
Tue 27
18°/8°
dry · 16 km/h
Source: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). General lowland forecasts, to be cross-checked with specialist mountain forecasts at altitude.
Practical info
- Address
- Lac du Pêcher, 15300 Chavagnac, France
15300 Chavagnac
What visitors say
Google rating
Average of 191 reviews on Google Maps.
Community rating
No reader reviews yet: yours gets things started.
Your logbook
Around Lac du Pêcher
Enough to build your day around this address.
A place to see, a night to spend?
Hotels, gîtes and B&Bs within 20 km of Chavagnac. Availability and online booking.
Worth seeing nearby
Réserve naturelle régionale des tourbières du Jolan et de la Gazelle
4.8Ségur-les-Villas · 3.5 km away
Cascade des Veyrines
4.7Landeyrat · 7.6 km away
Hikes nearby
Waymarked routes within 15 km, GPX track included.
On footFrom Allanche to Chalinargues via the Bois de la Pinatelle (stage 1 of the Découverte intime du Cézallier multi-day route)
Start: Place du Cézallier à Allanche
- 15.1 km
- +383 m
- 4 h
On footHikes around Lac du Pêcher
On footFrom Allanche to Chalinargues via the Bois de la Pinatelle (stage 1 of the Découverte intime du Cézallier multi-day route)
Start: Place du Cézallier à Allanche
- 15.1 km
- +383 m
- 4 h
On foot
On footYou might also like
More lakes in Cantal and nearby.
Lac de Bourdouze
4.5Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise · Puy-de-Dôme
139 reviews
Lac de Guéry
4.7Le Mont-Dore · Puy-de-Dôme
813 reviews
Lac de Servières
4.7Orcival · Puy-de-Dôme
652 reviews
Lac Chauvet
4.0Picherande · Puy-de-Dôme
277 reviews
Lac de Montcineyre
4.4Compains · Puy-de-Dôme
131 reviews
Cézallier
4.9Anzat-le-Luguet · Puy-de-Dôme
43 reviews