Lake Pareloup, one of the five Lakes of Lévezou
Lake Pareloup is one of five artificial lakes created by EDF (Électricité de France) in the 1940s to generate hydroelectric power for the region.
It is located on the Lévezou plateau, a region in the foothills of the Auvergne mountains, between Millau and Rodez. The Lévezou plateau rises to an average altitude of 800 meters, with its highest point, the 1,128-metre-high Mont Seigne.
Along with the lakes of Villefranche-de-Panat, Pont-de-Salars, La Gourde, and Bages, Lake Pareloup forms the Lacs du Lévezou, the largest lake system in France. Unfortunately, the creation of these lakes required flooding entire valleys. An underground network of tunnels, supplied by a pumping system, connects these lakes. The water is piped to the Pouget hydroelectric power station before being released into the Tarn River.
The creation of these lakes has had a significant positive impact on tourism. Villefranche-de-Panat, Pareloup, and Pont-de-Salars have become popular destinations for water sports and fishing. Bages and La Gourde, on the other hand, are primarily aimed at fishing enthusiasts.
Lake Pareloup, a popular holiday destination
Lake Pareloup, also known as Lac de Salles-Curan due to its proximity to the small town of Salles-Curan, is an iconic feature of the Occitanie-Midi-Pyrénées region.
Spanning 1,200 hectares, it is indeed the largest lake in the region and the fifth largest in France!
Its rugged shoreline stretches for over 130 kilometres, creating numerous peninsulas and coves to explore. Two hills, which once overlooked the valley, are now islands.
During the summer, Lake Pareloup becomes a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with a multitude of water sports, such as sailing, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, water skiing, rowing, and swimming.
The lake has two supervised public beaches: Pareloup and Vernhes. For those seeking tranquillity away from the crowds, Caussanel beach and its secluded coves offer perfect spots to relax.
An orientation table located above Vernhes offers a panoramic view of the lake and its wooded shores.
You will find it next the Vierge des Lacs (Virgin of the Lakes), a life-size statue of the Virgin Mary, watches over the waters.
To accommodate the influx of vacationers, several campsites, holiday homes, and guesthouses have been developed in the surrounding villages. Thus, the population triples during the summer season!
Water sports and boat rental on the lake: https://www.salles-curan.fr/fr/tourisme-loisirs/lac-pareloup/activites-nautiques.php
Aveyron department
Coordinates Lake Pareloup:Lat 44.197385 – Long 2.739411
Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Lake by Musaraigne Public domain – Dam by Christophe.Finot CC BY-SA 2.5 – Vierge des Lacs by Musaraigne CC BY-SA 3.0
