Les Lacs

Montbel Lake

Nestled in beautiful countryside, Lac de Montbel is the largest inland water sports lake in south-west France, covering an area of over 1500 acres. Activities include swimming, fishing, walking and many water sports. It's also a beautiful place to relax and enjoy the views.

It can be accessed from Léran and Montbel. The Léran side is perfect for families and has a large beach where the water is safe for swimming. The surrounding woods offer plenty of shade and picnic areas. In the woods is a ropes park Appy Parc which offers zip lines and climbing activities for all ages.

La Regate restaurant overlooks the lake and offers a good selection of food, drinks and ice cream in a relaxed setting.

On the Montbel side, the beach allows you to enjoy a superb view of the hills which border the lake. There is also a children's play area which includes various bouncy castles to entertain the children. Cold drinks and meals are also available at the nearby cafe.

For the more energetic, this side is also a good starting point for a walk. It is possible to go completely around the lake, but it takes around four hours and covers a distance of around 16 kilometers. You can easily do the tour without a map, but for more information on hiking around the lake, click here .

Puivert Lake

Puivert is a much smaller lake but is set in a beautiful setting with views of the ancient Cathar castle opposite the large sandy beach, ideal for swimming. It has a large grassy area for relaxing and picnicking. There is also a cafe offering snacks and drinks.

Every Wednesday during July and August, either under the Market Hall or by the lake, you can enjoy the night markets where you can buy excellent hot and cold food, drinks, local artisan products and listen to live music.