Top 5 Lakes around Chatenay-Mâcheron

For families, Lac de la Liez is an excellent choice, offering a sandy beach with supervised swimming during summer, a playground, volleyball court, and picnic areas. It also has a nautical base for various water sports. Lac de Charmes also provides supervised swimming in July and August, along with canoe and pedal boat rentals. Lac de Villegusien is another family-friendly option with supervised beaches and a sailing school.

Lac de la Mouche is considered the most natural of the Langres lakes. It offers a serene atmosphere with clear waters, extensive wooded surroundings, and is ideal for nature observation, hiking, and birdwatching. Motorized vehicles are restricted on its banks, preserving its peaceful environment.

At Lac de la Liez, you can enjoy pedal boats, canoes, paddleboarding, sailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, and towed buoys from its nautical base. Lac de Charmes offers canoe, pedal boat, and rowing boat rentals. Lac de Villegusien is popular for sailing, with a dedicated sailing school, and allows electric motorboats.

Yes, all the major lakes offer walking and hiking opportunities. Lac de la Liez features a 15.24 km path encircling the lake. Lac de la Mouche has a 7 km trail around the lake and a shorter 4 km circuit. Lac de Charmes and Lac de Villegusien also have various trails suitable for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. You can find more detailed routes in the Hiking around Chatenay-Mâcheron guide.

Fishing is a popular activity across the region's lakes. Lac de la Liez is known for carp and pike. Lac de la Mouche is abundant with fish, especially carp, with 8.1 km of shoreline accessible to anglers. Lac de Charmes is a favored spot for fishing enthusiasts, including accessible fishing posts for people with disabilities. Lac de Villegusien also offers fishing for carp and pike, with night fishing for carp allowed in specific areas.

Yes, swimming is permitted at several lakes, particularly during the summer season. Lac de la Liez has a sandy beach with supervised swimming from June to September. Supervised swimming is also available at Lac de Charmes during July and August, and at the beaches of Lac de Villegusien.

Absolutely. The areas around the lakes are well-suited for cycling. For instance, you can find routes like the 'Lake Liez – Diderot Square loop' or the 'Lake Liez loop from Peigney'. Explore more options in the Cycling around Chatenay-Mâcheron guide.

The lakes are artificial reservoirs, originally built about a century ago to regulate water levels for the canal connecting the Marne and Saône rivers. Each lake has its own character, from the comprehensive leisure facilities at Lac de la Liez to the tranquil, natural beauty of Lac de la Mouche, and the impressive dam of Lac de Villegusien.

The summer months (June to September) are ideal for water activities like swimming and water sports, as beaches are open and supervised. However, the lakes offer beautiful scenery and trails for hiking and cycling year-round, with autumn providing stunning foliage and spring bringing new life and migratory birds.

Yes, there are mountain biking trails available. For example, you can find routes such as the 'Lac de la Liez loop from Lecey' or the 'Tufière de Saint-Ciergues – Lake Mouche loop from Langres'. More detailed routes can be found in the MTB Trails around Chatenay-Mâcheron guide.

Yes, Lac de Charmes notably features accessible fishing posts for people with disabilities, ensuring a more inclusive experience for anglers.

The lakes are rich in biodiversity. Lac de la Mouche is home to various bird species and abundant fish, making it excellent for nature observation. Lac de Villegusien is a significant site for ornithologists, boasting a discovery circuit and an observatory for viewing migratory birds, alongside its rich aquatic ecosystem including large carp.