Lac de Servière, Volcanic lake in Orcival, France.
Located at 1202 meters elevation, Lac de Servières extends across 0.15 square kilometers with waters reaching depths of 26 meters in the Puy-de-Dôme department.
The lake emerged from explosive volcanic activity in the Massif Central region, forming a maar crater that filled with water over geological time periods.
Local inhabitants of Puy-de-Dôme maintain oral traditions about the lake's formation, connecting it to the broader volcanic heritage of the Auvergne region.
Multiple walking paths circle the lake, offering various difficulty levels for hikers, with designated parking areas available near the main access points.
The lake's deep blue waters change color throughout different seasons, reflecting the surrounding mountain landscape and attracting numerous bird species.
Location: Orcival
Elevation above the sea: 1,202 m
Address: Lac de Servière, 63210 Orcival, France
GPS coordinates: 45.64602,2.85921
Latest update: June 30, 2025 15:44
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes area has lakes from very different beginnings. Large lakes that formed from glaciers, like Lake Bourget or Lake Annecy, appeared after the glaciers in the Alps melted. They have deep water surrounded by mountains. In the Massif Central, volcanic lakes sit in old craters, such as Lake Pavin, which is nearly 7,000 years old, and Lake Issarlès, which goes down more than 100 meters deep. Some lakes are high up in the mountains, like Lake Guéry at 1250 meters, while others are in flat land or in deep valleys. There are also several artificial lakes built in the 20th century to make electricity or manage water flow. Lake Monteynard was created in 1962 on the Drac river, and Lake Saint-Étienne-Cantalès, held back by a dam on the Cère river since 1945, are popular spots for swimming, sailing, and fishing. Each lake feels different: clear and cold mountain waters, wooded shores in Jura, changing colors in volcanic craters. Visitors can walk around these places, go by boat, or just enjoy the views from the banks.
Lac de Guéry
4.5 km
Basilique Notre-Dame d'Orcival
4.3 km
Banne d'Ordanche
7.8 km
Château de Cordès
6.5 km
Cascades du Mont-Dore
7.7 km
Puy de l'Ouire
2.9 km
Puy de l'Enfer
5.3 km
Puy de la Tache
6.1 km
Puy de la Combregrasse
7.4 km
Puy de la Toupe
7.7 km
Puy de Monténard
5.9 km
Puy de Barbier
7.7 km
Puy de Baladou
3.6 km
Puy de la Rodde
7.7 km
Puy de Monne
7.2 km
Puy de l'Aiguiller
3 km
Église Sainte-Anne d'Aurières
5.5 km
Point de Vue Roches Tuilière et Sanadoire
4 km
Èglise Saint-Bonnet
6.8 km
Église de l'Assomption de Saulzet-le-Froid
4.6 km
Narse d'Espinasse
5.3 km
Église Saint-Didier de Vernines
3 km
Église Sainte-Marguerite du Vernet-Sainte-Marguerite
8 km
Église Saint-Jean de Rochefort-Montagne
5.9 km
Église Saint-Roch de Beaune-le-Froid
7.7 km
Puy Pouge
6.5 km
Puy Gros
7.5 km
Puy de Surains
7.7 kmReviews
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