Lac de Montbel, Reservoir lake near Chalabre, France.
The artificial lake spans 550 hectares with turquoise waters, bordered by the Ariège and Aude departments in southwestern France.
Engineers constructed the lake between 1982 and 1985 to support irrigation needs for agricultural areas extending toward the Lauragais plains.
The lake sits within the Cathar Pyrenees region, where visitors can explore neighboring medieval sites like Montsegur fortress and Camon village.
The lake features supervised beaches on both Montbel and Léran sides, with dedicated areas for swimming, pedal boats, canoes, and paddle boarding.
When water levels decrease, the lake reveals submerged hillsides with tree stumps and distinctive marl clay formations along the shoreline.
Elevation above the sea: 400 m
Address: Lac de Montbel, 09600, France
GPS coordinates: 42.97583,1.95861
Latest update: November 29, 2025 17:10
Occitanie hosts a wide variety of lakes spread between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central. Natural lakes mainly occupy high-altitude zones in the Pyrenees, where glacial erosion has carved out cirques and basins now filled with water. Lake Oô, located at 4,950 feet (1,507 meters) altitude, receives water from a 984-foot (300-meter) waterfall descending from Lake Espingo. The Bastan lakes form a series of three linked water bodies between 7,217 and 8,202 feet (2,200 and 2,500 meters) near Barèges, while Lake Bethmale, at 3,498 feet (1,065 meters) in Couserans, is surrounded by beech forests. Artificial lakes in the region serve various functions, including water storage, hydroelectric power, and recreational activities. Lake Salagou, created in 1969 in Herault, stands out for its distinctive geological setting: red rocks rich in iron give the landscape a reddish-brown hue. Lake Pareloup, covering about 3,485 acres (1,410 hectares) in Aveyron, is one of the largest reservoirs in the area. Lake Saint-Ferréol, built in the 17th century at the foot of the Black Mountain, supplies the Canal du Midi and demonstrates historic hydraulic engineering. These lakes offer opportunities for hiking, sailing, and windsurfing, especially at Lake Ganguise where the wind blows roughly 300 days per year.
Château de Lagarde
8.5 km
Château de Léran
4.1 km
Château de Sibra
8 km
Église du Saint-Sacrement de Laroque-d'Olmes
6.9 km
Church of Aigues-Vives, Ariège
7.2 km
Église Saint-Pierre de Chalabre
3.8 km
Abbatiale de la Nativité-de-la-Vierge de Camon
5.2 km
Hôtel de ville de Chalabre
3.9 km
Église de l'Exaltation-de-la-Sainte-Croix de Belloc
4.7 km
Église Notre-Dame de Chalabre
3.9 km
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Régat
6.1 km
Église de la Décollation-de-Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Saint-Jean-d'Aigues-Vives
9.3 km
Église de Queille
6.4 km
Chapelle du Calvaire de Chalabre
4 km
Église Saint-Vincent de Montbel
1.5 km
Église de la Nativité-de-la-Vierge-Marie de L'Aiguillon
8 km
Église Saint-Marcel de Puivert
9.4 km
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Rivel
5 km
Saint Agatha's Church
9.7 km
Église Sainte-Colombe de Sainte-Colombe-sur-l'Hers
2.8 km
Église Sainte-Cécile de Rivel
5.2 km
Église Saint-André du Peyrat
3.7 km
Église de l'Assomption de Courtauly
9.9 km
Église Saint-Gaudéric de Montjardin
5.7 km
Prieuré Notre-Dame de Camon
5.2 km
Église de la Décollation-de-Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Sonnac-sur-l'Hers
4.2 km
Église de la Nativité-de-la-Vierge de Lagarde
8.4 km
Château de Saint-Quentin-la-Tour
6.4 kmReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes