Top 15 Lakes around Gouloux

The lakes in the Morvan Regional Natural Park offer a wide range of activities. At Lac des Settons, you can enjoy sailing, pedalos, paddleboats, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, and even jet-skiing. It's also excellent for hiking, mountain biking, or electric scooter rides. For a more tranquil experience, Lac du Crescent is ideal for fishing, walking, and picnicking. The wider Morvan region provides opportunities for hiking, horse riding, and various water sports across its many lakes.

Yes, several lakes are great for families. Lac des Settons is particularly family-friendly, offering supervised swimming at its Blue Flag beach during summer, along with inflatable water structures like blob jumps. The 14 km loop around Lac des Settons is accessible for families to hike or bike. Chamboux Lake and Lake Saint-Agnan are also noted as family-friendly highlights, offering pleasant walks and natural beauty.

Many lakes offer excellent hiking opportunities. A popular 14 km loop around Lac des Settons is suitable for hikers and mountain bikers, offering stunning views and passing over a footbridge and the dam. Lac du Crescent features an 11 km loop hiking circuit starting from Marigny-l'Église. You can also find an 8 km walk around Chamboux Lake to observe its fauna and flora. For more hiking options, explore the Hiking around Gouloux guide.

Absolutely. Lac des Settons is a great spot for cycling, with a popular 14 km loop around the lake. The Morvan region, in general, is well-suited for cycling. You can find various routes, including longer tours that encompass multiple lakes. For detailed cycling paths, refer to the Road Cycling Routes around Gouloux guide.

The lakes themselves have historical significance, originally built for water supply, logging, and flood regulation. The Settons Lake Dam is a notable landmark, completed in 1858 and unique for its pyramid shape, designed to withstand water pressure by its own weight. Guided tours of the Settons dam are offered during the summer. Lac du Crescent was formed by a hydroelectric dam built between 1930 and 1933, partly financed by German war damages.

Lac du Crescent is considered the lake for carnivore anglers, boasting a good population of pike, perch, and pike-perch, including large specimens. Lac de Pannecière, the largest of the Morvan lakes, is also known for fishing. Remember to check local regulations and permits for fishing.

The summer months (July and August) are popular, especially for water sports and supervised swimming at Lac des Settons, where a small market is also held. However, the region's natural beauty, with its forests and water bodies, makes it appealing throughout spring and autumn for hiking and enjoying the changing foliage. Winter offers a different, quieter experience, though specific activities might be limited.

Yes, the lakes are nestled within the Morvan Regional Natural Park, offering a green, peaceful, and natural setting. Lac des Settons is surrounded by fir and larch trees. Lac du Crescent is known for its wild, wooded surroundings and distinctive crescent shape. You can also find unique wooden boardwalks, such as the one at Wooden boardwalk on Lake Saint-Agnan, allowing you to experience the lake from within and observe local flora and fauna.

Around Lac des Settons, you'll find various accommodation options including shepherd huts, camping, and chalets. The wider Morvan region offers a range of choices from campsites to hotels and gîtes, catering to different preferences for staying close to nature or in nearby villages.

Yes, particularly around Lac des Settons, you'll find restaurants, bars, and gift shops. For other lakes, dedicated rest areas often have picnic tables, and nearby villages will offer additional dining options.

Lake Saint-Agnan is one of the last dams built in the Morvan regional natural park. It is notable for its dam, which is 1,600 meters long and 16 meters high, and the clear turquoise colors of its waters in places. It's a beautiful spot for pedaling or walking, offering magnificent views and a chance to observe colorful flowers and lizards on the banks.

While Lac des Settons offers supervised swimming at its Blue Flag beach, many of the lakes, including Lac du Crescent, allow for swimming in their wilder settings. Always exercise caution and be aware of local regulations and safety conditions when engaging in unsupervised swimming.