Lac de Bort-les-Orgues, reservoir in France
Lac de Bort-les-Orgues is a reservoir in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Nouvelle-Aquitaine formed by a dam on the Dordogne River. The water surface sits behind the dam and is surrounded by wooded slopes, sandy beaches and rocky heights, with many sections of shoreline gentle enough for walking and resting near the edge.
The dam was built to store water and generate electricity, transforming the Dordogne riverbed into a large lake. The project reshaped the region while providing jobs and a source of power for surrounding areas.
The name refers to a nearby town and rock formations that resemble organ pipes. Locals use the lake mostly in summer for swimming and fishing, while visitors often walk along the shore paths and stop at viewpoints to watch the water.
Parking and picnic areas line the shore roads, making it easy for families to reach the water. Sandy beach sections work well for swimming and playing when the weather is warm, and morning or evening visits often feel quieter and offer better light for walking.
The reservoir touches three different departments and sits within two regional natural parks, each protecting different stretches of the shore. Otters and freshwater pearl mussels live in the waters and surrounding woods, while eagles and ravens soar above the rocky heights.
Location: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Location: Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Elevation above the sea: 437 m
GPS coordinates: 45.44520,2.49939
Latest update: December 4, 2025 11:12
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes area has lakes from very different beginnings. Large lakes that formed from glaciers, like Lake Bourget or Lake Annecy, appeared after the glaciers in the Alps melted. They have deep water surrounded by mountains. In the Massif Central, volcanic lakes sit in old craters, such as Lake Pavin, which is nearly 7,000 years old, and Lake Issarlès, which goes down more than 100 meters deep. Some lakes are high up in the mountains, like Lake Guéry at 1250 meters, while others are in flat land or in deep valleys. There are also several artificial lakes built in the 20th century to make electricity or manage water flow. Lake Monteynard was created in 1962 on the Drac river, and Lake Saint-Étienne-Cantalès, held back by a dam on the Cère river since 1945, are popular spots for swimming, sailing, and fishing. Each lake feels different: clear and cold mountain waters, wooded shores in Jura, changing colors in volcanic craters. Visitors can walk around these places, go by boat, or just enjoy the views from the banks.
Château de Val
552 m
Dam of Bort-les-Orgues
3.6 km
Château de Pierrefitte
4.7 km
Orgues de Bort
5.5 km
Château de Madic
7.7 km
Sanctuaire gallo-romain de Margerides
5.8 km
Dognon
3.9 km
Saut de la Saule
7 km
Prieuré de Port-Dieu
8.5 km
Château de Thynières
1.7 km
Église Saint-Martin de Margerides
7.8 km
Église Notre-Dame de Lanobre
2.9 km
Halles de Bort-les-Orgues
4.9 km
Église Notre-Dame de Labessette
5.8 km
Croix en lave de Labessette
5.8 km
Église Saint-Loup de Trémouille-Saint-Loup
6.9 km
Scenic viewpoint
6.4 km
Scenic viewpoint
6.5 km
Église Saint-Germain-de-Constantinople de Bort-les-Orgues
5 km
Plage de Val
551 m
Église Saint-Remy de Champs-sur-Tarentaine-Marchal
7.3 km
Église Saint-Barthélemy de Sarroux-Saint Julien
6.4 km
Chapelle de Notre-Dame de Montserat
7.8 km
Église Saint-Julien-de-Brioude de Saint-Julien-près-Bort
8.2 km
Val Aventure - Accrobranche
619 m
Église Saint-Joseph de Vaux
4.2 km
Chapelle du château de Val
548 m
Scenic viewpoint
5.6 kmReviews
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