Barrage du Châtelot, Arch dam at French-Swiss border, Neuchâtel and Villers-le-Lac.
Barrage du Châtelot is an arch dam spanning the Doubs River at a height of 74 meters between France and Switzerland. The structure measures 150 meters in length and varies from 2 to 14 meters in thickness.
Construction of the dam started in 1950 and finished in 1953. This joint project represented an important engineering achievement for cross-border cooperation.
The dam represents a testament to Franco-Swiss cooperation, demonstrating the shared commitment to water resource management and renewable energy production in the border region.
The dam is accessible via a forest road of about 2 kilometers from Villers-le-Lac town. Parking areas are available near the entrance, making it easy to visit.
The dam created a large water body that reshaped the surrounding gorge landscape. Today the reservoir supports diverse aquatic wildlife and remains an important feature of the Doubs valley.
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