Understanding Auvergne's lakes in 30 seconds
Three types of lake sit side by side in Auvergne:
- Maars: explosion-crater lakes, formed when magma met water. Round, deep, often dark water. Examples: Pavin, Servières, Bouchet.
- Lava-dammed lakes: a lava flow blocked a valley. Bigger, irregular shapes. Examples: Aydat, Chambon, Guéry.
- Artificial lakes: hydroelectric reservoirs (EDF, the French electricity company). Vast, deep, swimming often not very organised. Example: Lac de Sarrans.
This article focuses on the first two types, the ones that give Auvergne its identity, with two lakes of glacial origin and a big neighbouring reservoir as a bonus. And if your question is more "where can I swim?", our guide to swimming in Auvergne sorts it out lake by lake, rules included.
1. Lac Pavin: the most iconic
Lac Pavin (4.8/5). A circular maar 800 m across and 92 m deep. The youngest crater lake in mainland France (6,900 years old), sitting at 1,197 m between Besse and Super-Besse. Its waters look dark, and in summer they turn turquoise along the edges. An easy walk around it: 2.7 km, about 1 hour, in the shade of the beech wood.
Swimming: not allowed in the lake, by municipal order (very cold water, very deep lake, no shore you can swim from). Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and inflatables are also prohibited: only the rowing boats of the lake's owner or its concession holder go out on the water. You come for the walk around the lake and fishing from a boat, not for a swim. Best season: June to September. Combine with: Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, Lac Bourdouze, Cascade de Vaucoux.
2. Lac Chambon: the family lake
Lac Chambon (4.6/5). A lava-dammed lake created by the eruption of the Tartaret, between Murol and Chambon-sur-Lac, at 877 m. Sandy beach, lifeguarded swimming in summer, pedalo, paddleboard, canoe and kayak hire. It's the family lake par excellence.
Swimming: allowed and lifeguarded on its two equipped sandy beaches, on the Murol side and the Chambon side, in July and August. Best season: July and August for swimming, May, June and September for walking around the lake (3.5 km, about 1 hour). Combine with: Château de Murol, Cascade de la Biche, Réserve de Chaudefour.
3. Lac de Servières: the quiet one
Lac de Servières (4.7/5). A 14-hectare maar at 1,200 m, above Orcival. A woodland path goes all the way round, hardly used outside summer. No engine noise, fishing allowed. Cold water.
Swimming: not allowed, and neither is boating: the aquatic plant beds in the shallow water along the edges are protected nationally, and trampling tears them up. Fishing is still allowed, with a permit. Best season: autumn for the colours, May for the daffodils. Combine with: Basilique d'Orcival.
4. Lac du Guéry: the highest
Lac du Guéry (4.7/5). The highest lake in Auvergne (1,244 m), between Le Mont-Dore and Orcival. A lava-dammed lake: a lava flow blocked the Ruisseau des Mortes, in a hollow carved out by glaciers, and a dam raised its level around 1890. Peat bogs around the edges, the Sancy peaks in the background.
Swimming: not allowed, and neither are diving and boating (one of the Département's sensitive natural areas). Best season: May to October. If the lake freezes, even partly, fishing is not allowed (2026 fishing regulations). Combine with: Roche Sanadoire, Roche Tuilière, Puy de Sancy.
5. Lac Bourdouze: the secret one
Lac Bourdouze (4.5/5). A lake of glacial origin, 7 km from Besse on the D36, towards Compains. Part of the lake is covered by a peat bog, hence its name (from "burbula", the quagmire). Great crested grebes, common frogs, dragonflies. No path all the way round, because of the bogs: allow 1 hour there and back from the car park, and stay on the path.
Swimming: not allowed (a bog lake listed as a Natura 2000 site). Only fishing is allowed. Best season: June (dragonflies), September (the light). Combine with: Lac Pavin, Cascade de Vaucoux, Plateau de l'Artense.
6. Lac d'Aydat: the largest natural lake
Lac d'Aydat. The largest natural lake in Auvergne, about 60 hectares, 25 km south of Clermont-Ferrand. It was created by the Cheire d'Aydat, the lava flow from the Puy de la Vache and the Puy de Lassolas, more than 8,500 years old, which acted as a dam.
Swimming: allowed and lifeguarded in July and August, in the afternoon; outside the lifeguarded hours and period, it is prohibited by prefectural order. École de Voile d'Aydat (sailing school): sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking. Watch out: works to renature and modernise the beach run until summer 2028. Its car park has been permanently closed since 31 August 2026, and the site was only open to the public until 21 September 2026. Renovated beach: full completion announced for summer 2028, after two phases of works (September 2026 to June 2027, then September 2027 to June 2028).
7. Lac de Tazenat: the perfect maar
Gour de Tazenat. A maar with an almost circular crater (900 m across), in Charbonnières-les-Vieilles. Steep banks, 68 m deep, a secret feel. Swimming is allowed but not lifeguarded: you swim at your own risk. Tests in June and July 2025 showed water of good quality for swimming. The lake is private: no fires, no barbecues, and sleeping on the beaches or in the woods is prohibited.
Best season: spring (daffodils) and summer for a discreet swim.
8. Lac du Bouchet: the Haute-Loire maar
Lac du Bouchet (Haute-Loire). A perfect maar at 1,205 m, surrounded by fir forests. 28 m deep. Fishing allowed, an equipped beach with lifeguarded swimming in summer (Blue Flag label), an easy walk around the lake (3 km on the flat).
Best season: summer for a calm swim, autumn for the colours of the fir trees.
9. Lac d'En-Bas (La Godivelle): the bog lake
At the eastern entrance to the village of La Godivelle, on the Cézallier plateau. A lake of glacial origin, classified as a nature reserve. You can't walk all the way round because of the peat bogs, but a path leads from the car park along the shore to the viewpoints, and you can take a pushchair. In season, you can watch the birds that come here to nest.
10. Lac de la Cassière: Aydat's little neighbour
Lac de la Cassière. 14 hectares at 861 m, created, like the Lac d'Aydat, by the lava flow from the Puy de la Vache and the Puy de Lassolas. A lake known for big swings in its water level. A private lake, reserved for fishing: swimming not allowed.
11. Lac de Saint-Front: the loner
Lac de Saint-Front (Haute-Loire). A maar in the heart of the Mézenc plateau, the highest lake in Haute-Loire, in a Natura 2000 site. Private property, mainly devoted to fishing; a little path takes you all the way round in under an hour. Ideal for contemplation.
12. Lac de Naussac: the big blue
In Lozère, but we mention it for its size: a dam reservoir of more than 1,000 hectares near Langogne, with sailing and windsurfing.
Quick comparison
| Lake | Type | Altitude | Swimming | Size | Loop difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pavin | Maar | 1,197 m | Not allowed | 44 ha | Easy (2.7 km, 1 hr) |
| Chambon | Lava-dammed | 877 m | Yes (two beaches) | 60 ha | Easy (3.5 km, 1 hr) |
| Servières | Maar | 1,200 m | Not allowed | 14 ha | Easy |
| Guéry | Lava-dammed | 1,244 m | No | 25 ha | Moderate |
| Bourdouze | Glacial | 1,150 m | Not allowed | 25 ha | No loop (1 hr there and back) |
| Aydat | Lava-dammed | 837 m | Beach under works until summer 2028 | 60 ha | Easy |
| Tazenat | Maar | 632 m | Yes (not lifeguarded) | 30 ha | Easy |
| Bouchet | Maar | 1,205 m | Yes | 44 ha | Easy (3 km) |
What to know before you dive in
Cold water. If cold water puts you off, go for the Lac Chambon, which is shallow.
Rules. Guéry, Servières and Bourdouze are classified as protected natural areas: swimming and boating are prohibited there, paddleboards and canoes included. At the Pavin, only the rowing boats of the lake's owner or its concession holder go out on the water. At Aydat, outside the lifeguarded period and hours, swimming is prohibited by prefectural order.
Weather. At altitude (Pavin, Guéry, Servières), a summer storm can build fast. Check the forecast before a lake walk and turn back if the sky clouds over.
Planning your trip
If you have 2 or 3 days, also take a look at our 3-day Auvergne itinerary, which takes in Lac Pavin and Lac Chambon. For a detailed page on each lake, see our interactive map with the "Lakes" filter.
