Étang de Cazaux et de Sanguinet, Artificial pond in Gironde, France.
The Étang de Cazaux et de Sanguinet is an artificial lake in southwestern France's Gironde region that covers a vast area. The body of water has deep sections and is bordered by shallow shores where recreation and water activities take place.
The lake formed when sand dunes blocked the Gorgue river, causing water to rise and flood the Roman settlement of Losa. Over time, additional villages became submerged as the water level continued to climb.
The museum in Sanguinet displays objects found during underwater explorations of the drowned settlements below the lake. These artifacts show how people lived in the villages before the water rose.
The lake has multiple access points along its shore where visitors can swim, sail, kayak, paddleboard, and fish. These activities are generally available year-round, with water temperature determining the most comfortable times.
Three complete ancient villages rest beneath the water's surface, representing different periods of human settlement. Diving expeditions have explored these submerged communities and recovered many artifacts now displayed in local museums.
Location: Gironde
Elevation above the sea: 12 m
Address: Étang de Cazaux et de Sanguinet, 40460 Sanguinet, France
GPS coordinates: 44.48333,-1.16667
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02
The Bassin d'Arcachon covers 155 square kilometers along the French Atlantic coast and offers numerous subjects for photography. The Dune du Pilat rises 110 meters above sea level and forms the tallest sand dune in Europe. Oyster farming villages such as Gujan-Mestras, L'Herbe, and Le Canon display wooden huts on stilts distributed along the shores. The Cap Ferret peninsula separates the basin from the Atlantic and presents long sandy beaches on both sides. The Cap Ferret lighthouse from 1947 reaches a height of 53 meters. The Île aux Oiseaux sits in the center of the basin and hosts two traditional stilt cabins, the Cabanes Tchanquées, which are surrounded by water at high tide. The town of Arcachon displays 19th-century villas in the Ville d'Hiver, a district with over 300 buildings in Belle Époque style. The Domaine de Certes et Graveyron nature reserve includes former salt marshes and fish ponds now inhabited by herons, spoonbills, and other water birds. The beaches of Pereire and Pyla-sur-Mer provide direct views of the basin and nearby pine forests.
Dune of Pilat
13.1 km
Côte d'Argent
12.9 km
Banc d'Arguin Natural Reserve
12.8 km
Zoo du Bassin d'Arcachon
11.7 km
Camping La Rive
3.9 km
AquaPark Biscarrosse
3.9 km
Musée historique de l'hydraviation
10.5 km
Pyla Camping
11.2 km
Château de Montbron
9.8 km
Église Saint-Martin de Biscarrosse
10 km
Au Paradis du Papillon
10.4 km
Central Beach Lake Biscarosse
5.7 km
Golf de Gujan
15 km
Max' golf
16.2 km
Golf de Biscarosse
5.2 km
Escaliers de la corniche
13.2 km
Plage Sud
8.5 km
Aqualand Bassin d'Arcachon
15.9 km
Plage du petit Nice
10.3 km
Plage de la Corniche
13.6 km
Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens de Cazaux
6.2 km
Parcours du Lac Départ
5 km
Église Sainte-Bernadette de Biscarrosse-Plage
7.8 km
Plage du Vivier
7.5 km
Plage de la Lagune
9.8 km
La Corniche
13.7 km
Église Saint-Sauveur de Sanguinet
7.4 km
Grande roue en Aquitaine
8.3 kmReviews
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