Rillé lake, Reservoir in Indre-et-Loire, France

Rillé Lake, also called Retenue de Pincemaille, is a 200-hectare artificial lake on the Lathan in the far west of Indre-et-Loire, in the commune of Rillé. It was formed in 1977 by the Mousseaux dam, which stands in neighbouring Breil in Maine-et-Loire. Pale grey-blue water lies between a tree-lined bank and a grassy shore where cows graze, and the lake sits amid the Touraine heathland.

The lake was created in 1977 by a dam that holds water from the Lathan stream while preventing flooding in the area. The construction of this reservoir allowed the region to stabilize its water supply and transform the location into a place for recreation and wildlife observation.

The water body is also known locally as Pincemaille and serves as a gathering place for people seeking outdoor relaxation. The surrounding wetlands and heathlands shape how visitors experience the landscape and encourage them to spend time watching wildlife and nature.

The lake is easy to reach with marked trails on both sides where visitors can explore by foot or bicycle at their own pace. Wear comfortable shoes and allow plenty of time for walks, especially for the longer western route that covers more distance through the countryside.

The Rillé train, a narrow-gauge tourist railway, runs along the lake rather than through it. The lake itself is the Retenue de Pincemaille, formed in 1977 by the Mousseaux dam, which stands in the neighbouring commune of Breil in Maine-et-Loire, just across the departmental border from Rillé.