Lac d'Ilay, Glacial lake in Jura, France.
Located at 774 meters above sea level, Lac d'Ilay extends over 72 hectares with turquoise waters and contains an island called Île de la Motte.
Archaeological excavations have revealed that the island within Lac d'Ilay was inhabited during the Neolithic period and later housed Saint-Vincent Priory around the year 1000.
The lake forms part of the Four Lakes area alongside Narlay, Petit Maclu, and Grand Maclu, representing the natural heritage of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park.
A designated beach area provides access to the lake, while specific zones remain protected from tourist activities to maintain the natural environment.
The island was once connected to the mainland by an underwater pathway, now submerged and marked by rushes growing along its former route.
Location: Jura
Elevation above the sea: 774 m
Address: Lac d'Ilay, 39150 La Chaux-du-Dombief, France 39150 La Chaux-du-Dombief
GPS coordinates: 46.62611,5.89750
Latest update: July 1, 2025 11:31
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.
Pic de l'Aigle
1.3 km
Cascades of Hérisson
2.7 km
Cascade de la Billaude
6.9 km
Chartreuse de Bonlieu
4.3 km
Parc animalier du Hérisson
5.8 km
Cascade de la Billaude
6.8 km
Gorges de la Lemme
5.4 km
Espace botanique du Frasnois
1.5 km
Église Sainte-Marguerite de Chaux-des-Crotenay
6.1 km
Église Saint-Georges de Songeson
6.6 km
Église de la Nativité-de-la-Vierge de Châtelneuf
5.5 km
Église de la Nativité de Lac-des-Rouges-Truites
7.9 km
Église Saint-Cloud de Denezières
7.1 km
Église Saints-Jacques-et-Philippe de Saffloz
6.1 km
Église Saints-Jacques-et-Philippe de Chevrotaine
4.9 km
Château de Chalain
7.7 km
Église Saint-Maurice de Saint-Maurice-Crillat
8 km
Église Saint-Point de La Chaux-du-Dombief
2.5 km
Église Saint-Laurent de Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux
7 km
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Bonlieu
4.3 km
Église Saints-Claude-et-Roch du Frasnois
1.3 km
Île de la Motte
352 m
Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Fort-du-Plasne
7 km
Église de la Nativité-de-la-Sainte-Vierge du Vaudioux
7.7 km
Chalet du Coin d'Aval
6 km
Chapelle Saint-Joseph de Menétrux-en-Joux
5.2 km
Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Jubilé de Salave
6.9 km
Chapelle Saint-Vincent d'Ilay
1.3 kmReviews
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