Lac de Malpasset, reservoir in France
Lac de Malpasset is an artificial lake created in 1954 behind a modern arch dam, stretching across about two square kilometers. The lake extended roughly 4 kilometers long and stored up to 50 million liters of water with depths reaching about 50 meters in some areas.
The dam was built in the early 1950s to support irrigation and water supply, but its construction was based on incomplete geological studies. On December 2, 1959, heavy rains caused water to rise rapidly and the dam suddenly failed, causing one of France's worst civil disasters of the 20th century.
The name Malpasset comes from old times when stagecoach robberies made the narrow pass dangerous. Today this historical name connects visitors to the area's past before the dam was built.
The site is open to visitors today with walking paths along the riverbed and around the ruins. The landscape is mostly rocky with gneiss hills, so wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
The dam ruins still show massive concrete blocks that were swept downstream by the violent flood traveling at speeds over 40 miles per hour. These scattered blocks serve as a silent reminder of the unexpected force of water that took just 20 minutes to reach Fréjus.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
