• Lac de Vassiviere - Lac Ste Hélène

Two swimminglakes

Swimming in naturewater

Lac de Vassiviere and Lac Ste Hélène are located 25km apart in the Limousin, Haute Vienne. Both are great holiday destinations with water always nearby for a refreshing dip. Nature, hiking, and water sports enthusiasts will love it here.

Below are some characteristics of these two top locations in the Limousin. We at wc-eend have a strong preference for Lac Sainte Hélène. But perhaps that is not very objective 😁 In any case, they are public favorites in the summer!

Lac de Vassiviere

Lac Vassivière is a large reservoir (9.76 km²) in the Limousin, central France. It is located on the border of the departments of Corrèze, Creuse, and Haute-Vienne. The reservoir was artificially constructed in 1947-1950 with a large concrete dam 3 meters thick. Eight abandoned villages were swallowed by the rising water when the lake was filled for the first time. One of those old villages was Vassivière, which is where the lake gets its name.

With almost 10 km², Lac de Vassiviere is the most important water supply in the Limousin. The lake is mainly fed by the Maulde river, which is also the literal connection to Lac Saint Hélène.

Did you know...

At Lac de Vassiviere, you can take a train or a water taxi to the island in the middle (Ile de Vassiviere). There is a tour boat, and water skiing and wakeboarding are possible from Plage de Pierrefitte.

Lac de Vassivière has been a stage finish three times in the Tour de France. In 1990, this resulted in Erik Breukink as the stage winner. For cycling enthusiasts, there is the Tour de Légendes around the lake. It is a tribute to 'Poupou', or Raymond Poulidor. A well-known cyclist, born in St Leonard de Noblat, not far from Bujaleuf. It is a nice bike ride along the banks of Lac de Vassiviere with many viewpoints. The route is indicated on large signs at the lake and is 23.5km long. Also suitable for an E-bike.

Lac de Sainte Hélène

Lac de Saint-Hélène is a widening of the river Maulde. This river flows from Lac Vassiviere, through Lac Ste Hélène, and on to the Vienne. The EDF has built a number of dams (barrages) in the Maulde to use the height difference to generate electricity. Annually, 170 million kWh is produced, enough to supply a city of 40,000 inhabitants with electricity.

The widening near Bujaleuf is 70 ha in size and is therefore called Lac de Ste Hélène. Although you hardly notice any current, it is not actually stagnant water. It is constantly refreshed. And that benefits the quality of the swimming water.

Did you know...

At the reception of Camping du Lac, pedal boats, canoes, and stand-up paddles (sups) are rented. There is also an XXL Sup for the whole family! All for the well-known friendly rates. On the sandy beach, there are swings, climbing frames, a slide, a seesaw, and a cable car.

The part of the lake that lies on the other side of the bridge is reserved for motorboats and water skiing. Electric boats are also available for rent next to the beach (high season).

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  • Carefree and relaxed camping

Five certainties from Camping du Lac

  • Cancellation Free cancellation up to 14 days before arrival.
    Money back
  • Space Additional tents easily fit on the pitch with an unobstructed view.
    125-150m²
  • Hygiene Spotless sanitary facilities due to regular cleaning.
    3x per day
  • Nature No mass tourism, pure tranquility in the green hills.
    Limousin
  • Relax Stress just slips away here, you are welcome.
    Hospitable
  • Cancellation Free cancellation up to 14 days before arrival.
  • Space Additional tents easily fit on the pitch with an unobstructed view.
  • Hygiene Spotless sanitary facilities due to regular cleaning.
  • Nature No mass tourism, pure tranquility in the green hills.
  • Relax Stress just slips away here, you are welcome.