Scenery and landscapes

Lakes

Man-made lakes, rivers, torrents, mountain streams, peat bogs and natural lakes – water is everywhere in the Cantal, flowing into the basins of the Dordogne, the Allier and the Lot.

Lake of Bort les Orgues : at the northernmost point of the Cantal, this is the first lake to have harnessed the power of the river Dordogne. It covers 1,100 hectares and is 20km long. The perfect lake for all kinds of water sports.

Lake of Enchanet : covering 410 hectares and 17km long. This lake is in the west of the Cantal, between the Dordogne and the Cère. It winds peacefully between the Pleaux, Arnac and Saint Christophe les Gorges. A great lake for pike fishing!

Lake of Saint Etienne Cantalès : to the west of the Cère basin, 20 km from Aurillac. The lake covers 560 hectares and is 13 km long. Especially well-known for its “fun” water-based activities.

Lake of Garabit-Grandval : a huge artificial lake in a wild location high up in the Cantal, along the course of its main river, the Truyère. This long lake (28 km) covers an area of 1,100 hectares.

Lake of Sarrans : partly in the Aveyron department. This lake is a continuation of the Garabit-Grandval reservoir and ends just a few kilometres from Entraygues at the confluence of the Lot and the Truyère.

Lastioulles : a whole series of little lakes lying in glacial basins. La Crégut lake is the only natural lake amongst them. The resulting landscape has a rather Nordic look and feel, dotted with calm, flat lakes, peninsulas and wooded mounds.

Rivers make up 6,300 km of waterways flowing down from the Monts du Cantal. All the rivers on the Cantal have waterfalls and fine scenery just waiting to be explored.