Lac Zola, Artificial reservoir in Le Tholonet, France
The Zola Lake extends through a Mediterranean landscape, surrounded by green oaks, pine trees, and scrubland at the foot of Sainte-Victoire Mountain.
François Zola designed this reservoir dam in 1838 to supply drinking water to Aix-en-Provence and prevent cholera epidemics in the region.
The site represents a notable example of 19th-century hydraulic architecture with its 42-meter-high arch dam construction.
Visitors can reach the lake from the parking areas at Bimont, Bibémus, or Le Tholonet, though swimming is not permitted.
The reservoir now functions as a flood regulator for three waterways: the Infernet, Arc, and Cause rivers.
Location: Le Tholonet
Operator: Societe du canal de Provence
Address: Lac Zola, 13100 Le Tholonet, France 13100 Le Tholonet
GPS coordinates: 43.53237,5.51401
Latest update: July 1, 2025 15:30
The lakes of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region stretch from the Southern Alps to the Verdon. The Serre-Ponçon lake, with its 28 km², offers beaches and coves bordered by forests. The Sainte-Croix lake is the third-largest lake in France. Altitude lakes such as Allos and Sainte-Anne exceed 2400 meters. The Berre pond represents the largest regional saltwater expanse with 155 km². These natural and artificial lakes offer swimming, water activities, and local wildlife observation.
Lycée militaire d'Aix-en-Provence
4.6 km
Carrières de Bibémus
1.1 km
Château Noir du Tholonet
2.9 km
Théâtre du Jeu de Paume
4.9 km
Pont des Trois-Sautets
4.1 km
Hôtel de Grimaldi-Régusse
4.9 km
Réserve naturelle nationale de Sainte-Victoire
2.2 km
Hôtel d'Arlatan
4.9 km
Hôtel d'Antoine
4.9 km
Château du Tholonet
982 m
Chapelle des pénitents blancs
4.9 km
Hôtel de Maliverny
4.9 km
Hôtel de Panisse
4.9 km
Forbin barracks
4.8 km
Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-l'Immaculée-Conception d'Aix-en-Provence
4.8 km
Château de Saint-Marc-Jaumegarde
2 km
Aqueduc gallo-romain
4.7 km
Fontaine de la Mule Noire
4.9 km
Oratoire Notre-Dame d'Aix-en-Provence (Trois Sautets)
4 km
Hôtel de Taillas
4.9 km
Armenian Genocide memorial, Aix
4.9 km
Hôtel, 55 rue Émeric-David (Aix-en-Provence)
4.9 km
Collège des Jésuites
5 km
Hôtel Portalis
4.8 km
Maison, 14 rue Clovis Hugues
4.9 km
Église de l'Annonciation de Notre-Dame de Beaurecueil
3.5 km
Église Sainte-Anne de Tournon
4.5 km
Église Saint-Marc de Saint-Marc-Jaumegarde
1.8 kmReviews
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