For this new article, I take you to discover a magnificent place, in the heart of the Southern Alps. We are going to discover the different activities to do around the lake of Serre-Ponçon !
We were completely charmed by this region, this lake, these mountains and all the life there is thanks to this lake. The activities are numerous, diverse and varied; there are many places to visit; and the natural environment offers magnificent nature walks! The Serre-Ponçon lake is the perfect place to recharge your batteries, rest and enjoy your holidays! With an exceptionally high level of sunshine, among the highest in the country, you can stock up on vitamin D.
Where is the Serre-Ponçon lake?
Before getting to the heart of the matter, let's make a geographical point to locate this famous lake. Located mainly in the Hautes-Alpes department and slightly in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, it is located in the heart of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region.
Allow around 30 minutes by car from Gap, to the west of the lake; 2 hours from Grenoble, to the north; and almost 4 hours from Nice, in the very south. The main towns surrounding the lake are Chorges, Savines-le-Lac and Embrun.
We will see later the different possibilities to access the lake of Serre-Ponçon. Contents: What to do in Serre-Ponçon?
- Enjoy the beaches
- Admire the church in the middle of the lake
- Visit the Dam Muséoscope
- Discover nautical activities
- Fly over the Serre-Ponçon lake
- Visit Embrun
- Go to Lake Saint-Apollinaire
- Skiing in Les Orres
- Go see the Haired Ladies
- Hike around the Serre-Ponçon lake
For this article, we will see as and when the different activities to do around the lake of Serre-Ponçon, within a radius of up to twenty kilometers around the lake. Regarding practical advice for organizing a stay at Lake Serre-Ponçon, you will find informative boxes throughout the article, as well as a summary practical advice section at the end of the article.
If you have additional questions not appearing in this article, you can leave us a comment, we will answer them with pleasure!
Map: what to do around Serre-Ponçon?
Enjoy the beaches
To start gently, I present to you a very pleasant activity to do around the lake of Serre-Ponçon: enjoy the many beaches! With its surface area of approximately 28 km2, the lake has something to surprise you! From the small paradise cove to the large beach equipped for children and adults, you are bound to find what you are looking for during your summer holidays at Lake Serre-Ponçon.
Here are some beaches that are worth visiting:
- Pommiers beach – Baie Saint-Michel:
This beach is located in front of the famous Chapel located in the heart of the lake. In summer, this chapel is surrounded by water. Only at the end of winter, when the water is low enough, access is revealed and allows access on foot.
As for the beach, it is supervised in summer. At your disposal: a large expanse of lawn, various water activities, snacks or even picnic areas. - The north beach of the Embrun lake:
Head north of the lake, a stone's throw from the town of Embrun. You will find a body of water separated from the lake by a dike. Here, many water activities are available. Beach supervised in summer with a few bars and restaurants. - Tremouilles Beach – Chanteloube:
Here is a little paradise around the lake of Serre-Ponçon! The bay of Chanteloube has clear blue water, small heavenly beaches and a breathtaking view. Still wild, less touristy and less equipped than some beaches, it offers an idyllic setting to enjoy nature. On site, a sailing and water skiing school.
Admire the chapel in the middle of the lake
We quickly talked about it in the previous part: the Saint-Michel chapel. This small church located on a hill, emerges in the middle of the waters of the lake in the middle of summer. As surprising as it may seem, the history of this church is closely linked to that of the lake and the dam.
At the end of winter, when the water in the lake is low enough, you can access it on foot. However, the interior of this building is not accessible. But the view is interesting and it makes for a nice walk.
Otherwise, on sunny days, you can go around it with a boat for example.
Little history of the lake
The history of this lake has not always been rosy. Born from the construction of the eponymous dam, this lake has swallowed up villages and houses. It was a great trauma for the inhabitants of the valleys concerned. Completed in the early 1960s, the lake was to swallow up 3 villages. In total, 1500 villagers had to leave their land.
Regarding the chapel of Saint Michel, it was above water level, and was therefore spared from certain destruction.
Despite the traumas, the construction of the dam brought work and interesting salaries for the young people of the valley.
Today, it is an interesting economic engine for the region. Tourism is an important activity and attracts many visitors. This dam also made it possible to channel the Durance and thus no longer suffer devastating floods. And it also makes it possible to produce electricity using green energy, water.
Visit the Dam Muséoscope
Now that you know the main lines of the history of this dam, I strongly urge you to visit the dam itself. You can only be impressed by the size of this construction!
You will also find an extremely interesting and enriching museum there! The latter traces the life of the dam. From the original idea of an engineer in the 1910s, to the realization of this project, through the stormy negotiations with the locals and the different technologies and different materials used, you will know everything about this impressive work!
In addition to being interesting, this Muséoscope is very well designed: fun and lively to the delight of children and adults! Lively rooms, films, reconstructions, models, … We are far from a boring museum with multiple panels to read. Quite the contrary! You will be accompanied by a guide throughout the visit, making your discovery all the more interesting. You can ask all the questions you want.
More information on the Muséoscope du lac de Serre-Ponçon
It will depend on what you want to do there! You can very well spend a day enjoying the beach; like spending a week and doing both hiking, lazing around and visiting the surroundings. But for a minimum of discovery and comfort, I tend to recommend a stay ofat least 3 days and 2 nights. This leaves you time both to enjoy the walks and the lake, but also to make unmissable visits such as that of the Muséoscope du barrage.
Discover nautical activities
Who says water, says nautical activities! Especially in summer, when the good weather permits. The nautical activities to do around the lake of Serre-Ponçon are quite numerous and diverse. From the quietest to the most sensational, there is something for all tastes, all ages and all generations. Let's take a quick look at the main activities to do around the Serre-Ponçon lake:
- Sliding sports:
Water skiing, towed buoy, wakeboarding, wakesurfing, kitesurfing, … Discover or rediscover thrilling sports that will make you discover the Serre-Ponçon lake in a more original way! Activities available in Sauze-du-Lac or Les Crots. - Rafting:
Rafting is very common in the region, especially on the Durance. Even if you are a novice, you can try your hand at this sport, as in Embrun for example. A fun and sporty activity. - Rentals for walking:
Various rentals offer motorboats, with or without a license, canoes, kayaks and even paddles for a more sporting experience. Possible rentals in Prunières, Chorges or Ubaye Serre-Ponçon. - Take a mini-cruise:
By sailboat, boat or trimaran, board one of these boats and let your skipper guide you. Sunset, fireworks, picnic, or even aperitif on the boat,... Live your visit to the Serre-Ponçon lake to the full, from Embrun or Savines-le-Lac. - The inflatable water park:
Head to Baie St Michel for this very fun water park! With family or friends, it will delight everyone!
Broad but interesting question, to which several answers are possible. If you want to come to Serre-Ponçon to enjoy the sun, the beaches and the nautical activities, then there is no doubt that this will be the time to June to September which should be given priority. It is during this period that the days will be the hottest. As for the sun, you are in one of the sunniest regions of France!
If you come for skiing, plan your stay between January and March.
Regarding the rest of the year, you can enjoy the calm of the off-seasons and the beautiful hikes to do in the region! You can also favor cultural visits such as the Muséoscope du barrage.
Fly over the Serre-Ponçon lake
Another way to discover the Serre-Ponçon lake is to take a little height. Indeed, various activities in the surroundings allow you to admire this lake and its dam from the air!
- Hot air balloon flight:
This first possibility is to board a hot air balloon basket and rise gently above the lake. The flights last approximately 1 hour, for a total activity of 3 hours. Take off at sunrise for breathtaking landscapes! Book your hot air balloon flight - Paragliding flight:
Another popular activity in the region is paragliding! Popular with thrill seekers or curious novices, paragliding is accessible to all and offers fantastic views of the lake, the valleys and the surrounding area. From 20 minutes to 1 hour, from discovery flight to thrilling flight, take to the skies and enjoy the pure mountain air. Book your hot air balloon flight
Visit Embrun
For your city breaks, I invite you to take a short tour of the charming town of Embrun, at the eastern end of the Serre-Ponçon lake. Colorful and typical alleys, pleasant little squares and pretty buildings await you. Among these buildings, some are worth a look. I am thinking in particular of the Notre-Dame-du-Real Cathedral. The latter dates from the end of the XNUMXth century-beginning of the XNUMXth century. The exterior as well as the interior are carefully decorated. You will be able to see there, among other things, magnificent marble sculptures, a quite remarkable mixture of style and materials used, a very pretty organ or even a magnificent rose window from the XNUMXth century.
Then take the direction of the Chanonges house. This is an old building that belonged to canons in the XNUMXth century. Dating from the XNUMXth century, its Romanesque style is perfectly identifiable. Do not hesitate to enter inside, beautiful exhibitions are offered throughout the year.
Go to Lake Saint-Apollinaire
Let us now move away from the Serre-Ponçon lake and set off to explore the surroundings. Among the essential places to see, I recommend that you go up to the small lake of Saint-Apollinaire. Located on the heights, the road is magnificent and you can also observe the Serre-Ponçon lake in the distance. In addition to this beautiful view, the major interest of this place is its small altitude lake. A very pleasant place to picnic, walk or rest in the shade of the trees. You can take the path going around.
The easiest way will be to get to Serre-Ponçon by car. Indeed, once there, the car is almost obligatory to go where you want during your stay.
Otherwise, you can arrive in cities like Marseille, Gap, Grenoble or Lyon by train or plane and then opt for a car rental.
Buses serve the valley, but once there you will be severely limited in your visits and travel.
Skiing in Les Orres
Located about twenty kilometers from the Serre-Ponçon lake, lovers of skiing in winter and hiking in summer will find what they are looking for. The ski resort of Les Orres actually includes two resorts: Les Orres 1650 and Les Orres 1800. More than 1000 km of slopes are accessible. In summer, activities such as hiking or mountain biking take over.
Les Orres 1800
The possibilities will be many! Indeed, whether in terms of location or type of accommodation, a multitude of accommodations will be available to you. To better help you, we have written a specific article on “Where to sleep around the Serre-Ponçon lake? ". However, here are 3 accommodation ideas that will give you a taste of the region:
Alpin D’Hôme
Let's start with this unusual accommodation located in the resort of Les Orres 1800, at the foot of the slopes. You will stay in beautiful bubbles with a view of the valley. Cosy, modern and practical interior. The private terrace will be the perfect spot to admire the stars in the evening. Take advantage of the calm of the mountain to recharge your batteries before putting on your skis! Unusual accommodation, Les Orres See the prices
The Den of Angels
This second suggestion is located in Les Crots, on the heights of the Serre-Ponçon lake. This is a house offering self-catering apartments as well as rooms. Able to accommodate between 2 and 4 people, it is the perfect place for a stay in the mountains. Well decorated and well equipped, the welcome will be warm. Not to mention the magnificent view of the valley. Gites and apartments, Crots See prices
Arnica guest house
For this last accommodation in the region of Serre-Ponçon, I suggest a pretty guest house recently renovated. Located on the heights to the south of the lake, the view is splendid over the surrounding mountains. Charming welcome, comfortable rooms and delicious homemade breakfast. The perfect combo for a successful stay in the Hautes-Alpes! Bed and breakfast, La Bréole See prices
Go see the Haired Ladies
Let's now head to the south shore of the lake, to Sauze-du-Lac. You will find strange geological phenomena there called the Demoiselles Coiffées. These huge columns of rock are strangely topped with huge blocks of stone! Some blocks reach 800 tons.
If you want to approach these columns, you will have to take an interpretation path composed of several explanations about this place.
Take the opportunity to take a walk in the village of Sauze-du-Lac and admire the remains of the Saint-Martin Chapel, dating from the XNUMXth century.
Hike around the Serre-Ponçon lake
Located at the gates of the Ecrins National Park, the Serre-Ponçon lake benefits from an exceptional geographical location. Its natural environment, made up of mountains and forests, is the perfect playground for lovers of beautiful hikes! The region has hikes for everyone, for all levels and all physical forms. From the beautiful walk to the hike of several days, you will inevitably find what you are looking for. With family or friends, hiking is an ideal and responsible way to discover a territory. Enjoy the calm of the mountains, the beauty of nature and perhaps you will be lucky enough to cross paths with one of the many shy inhabitants of the area.
So to see all the hikes that it is possible to do around the Serre-Ponçon lake, I invite you to go to the official website of the lake and find the hike made for you!
