As the sun is currently baking all of France, we need to find a way to beat this pesky heat wave. In addition to drinking a hectoliter of cool water a day, swimming can also help. Without further ado, we present France’s fifth-largest natural lake, with waters that are undoubtedly among the purest in the country. In fact, it’s that turquoise color that really catches the eye. We’ve learned that it’s due to the lacustrine chalk in its depths (great for the skin), unlike the mud more commonly found in other large Alpine lakes. Less well-known and even more beautiful—let’s head to Lake Paladru!
The “Blue Lake” and its 100 million m³ of natural water
Lyon isn’t on the coast, but the Rhône, the Saône, and its proximity to the Alps and the Jura Mountains mean that the capital of Gaul is surrounded by water. We learn that all the major Alpine lakes—from Lake Bourget to LakeAnnecy, including LakeAiguebelette and Lake Nantua—are the result of the melting of a massive glacier during the prehistoric era (the Würm glaciation), which may also explain the presence of the Gros Caillou, Lyon’s “star rock.”
Lake Paladru, on the other hand, is nicknamed the “Blue Lake” and is located not far from Voiron. At 6 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide, no less than 100 million cubic meters of crystal-clear water from melting ice await you. Just imagine the size of that bathtub! Today, swimming is permitted in the towns surrounding the lake: Charavines, Le Pin, Montferrat, and Paladru. Several options are available, ranging, for example, from supervised swimming at the municipal beach in Paladru (for a fee) to the beach in Charavines (free). Feel free to check the Pays Voironnais tourist office website directly for all the details.
I swim, you walk, they bike…
Between dips in the water, treat yourself to the multitude of activities the lake has to offer. Biking, hiking, water sports… there are as many options as there are degrees on the thermometer today. Several rest areas and a shaded greenway add to the enjoyment of swimming.
For those curious to learn more about the region’s history, the fantastic archaeological museum at Lake Paladru invites you to discover all the secrets of the lake’s history and its surroundings. For example, we learn that the area, just like Hautecombe, was inhabited as far back as prehistoric times and thata medieval village dating from the 11th century was submerged…
Lake Paladru, just like Lake Barterand, is a protected natural area, and the department is doing everything it can to preserve the area’s biodiversity and ensure it remains open to the public. Its preservation also depends, above all, on each and every one of us.
