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 is home to glacial lakes, natural waterfalls, geological formations, and medieval towns. Notable natural sites include the Cascades du Hérisson, Lac de Chalain, and Reculée de Baume-les-Messieurs. Urban centers like Dole, Arbois, and Salins-les-Bains retain their architectural heritage from the 16th and 17th centuries. The region offers outdoor activities in the Haut-Jura Nature Park and the ski resorts of Les Rousses and Métabief.
The lakes of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté include the Lake of Saint-Point, the second-largest natural lake in France, and Lake Vouglans, which spans 1500 hectares. The region features ancient natural lakes like Chalain, historical reservoirs like the Settons, and several bodies of water equipped for swimming. The lakes in Jura offer views from the Belvédère des 4 Lacs, while the reservoirs of the Canal de Bourgogne reflect the regional river heritage. In Morvan, various lakes facilitate water activities.
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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