Lac de Vouglans, Reservoir in Boissia, France
The Lac de Vouglans extends for 30 kilometers through the Jura department, reaching depths of 100 meters and storing 605 million cubic meters of water.
The construction of the dam in 1968 by Électricité de France required the relocation of Vouglans village and sections of a Carthusian monastery.
The lake serves as a central point for regional water sports, with local communities organizing regular fishing competitions and water-based events throughout summer.
Visitors can access multiple beaches including Bellecin and Mercantine, which provide facilities for swimming, boating, and water equipment rentals.
The reservoir maintains a water residence time of 180 days while generating hydroelectric power through the dam system at 429 meters elevation.
Location: Orgelet
Elevation above the sea: 430 m
Address: Lac de Vouglans, 39270 Orgelet, France 39270 Orgelet
GPS coordinates: 46.50139,5.67806
Latest update: December 1, 2025 12:52
The Jura department features varied landscapes with mountain ranges, limestone plateaus, and forested valleys. The terrain has shaped notable geological sites: the Hérisson waterfalls stretch over nearly 4 kilometers with 31 waterfalls, the Baume-les-Messieurs Reculée forms a closed valley with 200-meter-high walls, and the Langouette Gorges show a canyon carved by the Saine between vertical cliffs. Historic towns reflect the past of the region: Dole preserves its collegiate church and 16th- and 17th-century houses with arcades, Arbois hosts the Louis Pasteur house and wine cellars, while Salins-les-Bains displays its old salt production facilities listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Jura vineyards produce specific wines, including the yellow wine made in Château-Chalon, a village perched on a rocky spur overlooking the vineyards. The Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park offers hiking trails and cross-country skiing routes. The ski resorts of Les Rousses and Métabief welcome winter visitors at over 1100 meters altitude. Glacial lakes such as Chalain allow swimming and water activities during the summer.
The Burgundy-Franche-Comté region contains several major lakes of various origins. Lake Saint-Point stretches 6 kilometers in length and ranks as France's second largest natural lake. Lake Vouglans covers 1500 hectares, forming a reservoir along the Ain gorge. The Jura area features ancient natural lakes such as Lake Chalain, formed thousands of years ago. The Belvédère des 4 Lacs provides a viewpoint overlooking the Jura lakes. In the Morvan, historic reservoirs like Lac des Settons enable water activities. The reservoirs of the Canal de Bourgogne reflect the region's waterway heritage. Many of these bodies of water offer swimming facilities and equipment for water sports. The lakes are distributed across different natural landscapes of the region, from the Morvan to the Jura mountains.
Vouglans
11.6 km
Chartreuse de Vaucluse
7.7 km
Pont de la Pyle
1.6 km
Saut de la Saisse
8.8 km
Le Louisiane
2.1 km
Plage de la Mercantine
4.3 km
Plage de Bellecin
2.6 km
Église Saint-Christophe de Saint-Christophe
3.9 km
Chapelle du cimetière désaffecté de Barésia-sur-l'Ain
6.2 km
Église de Poitte
8.4 km
Vierge de Charchilla
5.2 km
Église Saint-Pierre de Charchilla
4.7 km
Église Saint-Martin de Barésia-sur-l'Ain
5.9 km
Enceinte ecclésiale de Maisod
3.6 km
Château de La Tour-du-Meix
3.1 km
Belvédère du Bief Dessous
10.9 km
Belvédère de la Braise
1.1 km
Scenic viewpoint
7.4 km
Scenic viewpoint
6.7 km
Scenic viewpoint
6.9 km
Scenic viewpoint
7.4 km
Scenic viewpoint
2.6 km
Scenic viewpoint
1.7 km
Scenic viewpoint
3 km
Belvédère du Regardoir
6.5 km
Lac de Vouglans
10.9 km
Belvédère du Regardoir
6.7 km
Scenic viewpoint
2.6 kmReviews
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