- The history of the lake
- On the webcam
- Tourism
- Beach : Swimming authorized and supervised
- Water temperature
- Cyanobacteria
- Boating and water sports
- The Peach
- The wetland
- Around the lake
- Activities
- Clermont-Fd shuttle
Lac d’Aydat is the largest natural lake in the Auvergne region., located at 850m altitude, with an area of 65 hectares and a maximum depth of 15 meters. He was born ago 8500 years thanks to the lava flow of Puy de la Vache and Puy de Lassolas, this flow (La Cheire d’Aydat) thus blocked the Veyre (River) to thus form a water reservoir, the lake you know today. An island on the north shore of the lake was named Saint-Sidoine Island, in reference to Sidoine Apollinaire who loved coming to his Aydat villa. It is the closest lake to Clermont-Ferrand, it is also the most urbanized.
📖 A little history
From the beginning of the 19th century until the middle of the 20th, the lake belonged to four separate owners., then some preferring to resell their share in turn, Mr. Conchon became the one and only owner of the lake. He donated it to the city of Clermont-Ferrand for social works for children around 1940 (Lake and the heritage of the lake area). 1943, Clermont-Ferrand decides to put up for sale (candle auction), it is Pierre Laval who is the buyer. The politician was then the owner of the Moulin Richard de Bas in Auvergne., of Chateldon Castle, from the newspaper Le Moniteur du Puy-de-Dôme and the Montlouis printing works. Sentenced to death in 1945, his property is confiscated, upon liberation the lake will be allocated to the works of the orphans of the National Police of the lake, the society of police wards which later became the Jean-Moulin Foundation. The lake is still today a private domain belonging to the Jean Moulin Foundation but since 2006 and until 2051 the community of commune of Cheires (Mond'Arverne) has a long lease on the lake. The community can thus carry out developments and maintenance in order to preserve this fragile space.. Is the quality of the lake water under the management of the Mixed Union of the Veyre and Auzon Valley, an environmental agency responsible for sanitation and management of aquatic environments.
📷 The webcam of the Mond’Arverne tourist office
This natural site offers its visitors numerous outdoor activities, the outdoor sports, for families, those who wish to spend a pleasant time as close as possible to nature.
Note that the Cheire has created a second water reservoir a few kilometers further north, Cassière Lake.
🏞️ A tourist site in Puy-de-Dôme
At the heart of Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Natural Park, it’s a place popular with locals, Aydatois, Clermontois and Puy-de-Dômois, it is a major tourist site in the sector, attracting thousands of visitors each year, tourists, vacationers, a popular destination for families. Significant attendance on and around the lake, with many outdoor activities and entertainment are offered to the public.
🏊🏽 A beach designed for swimming (Blue Flag Label)
Swimming in the lake is permitted, the lake has a supervised beach in the afternoons in July/August. The beach is labeled Blue Flag, an exemplary environmental quality label, obtaining this label is subject to numerous criteria, such as checking the water several times a year. The beach is designed for families, with games for children, picnic areas and tables, toilets, showers, for your comfort, bring your own chair or deckchair, the site does not offer deckchair rental. A car park allows you to park your vehicle, for motorhomes, specific parking places are provided. Nearby you will also find restaurants and shops.
🚮 No trash cans on the beach
This is not an oversight but a choice, if before there were trash cans on the lake beach, today they have been removed. The objective is to empower users of this natural site. So remember to bring a bag or trash bag so you can collect your waste and rubbish..
🌡️ Water temperature
The water temperature of the lake varies depending on the season and the weather.. Mountain lake proves refreshing during the high heat of summer.
🦠 The risks of cyanobacteria
Summer in high heat, the lake may be subject to the development of cyanobacteria, for obvious security reasons, swimming is then prohibited. The quality of the water is checked regularly to guarantee safe swimming..
⛵ Activities offered by the sailing school at the nautical base
The Aydat sailing school offers you a wide range of nautical activities, wing-foil, e-foil, pedal boat rental (Pedal’water), windsurf rental, fun board, location de paddle, big paddle, dinghy, catamaran, location de kayak (1 place, 2 places, 3 places), optimist, rowing… But also sailing courses for children, the adults, the groups…
🎣 The fishing card (Authorized fishing from 20 March to 31 December)
Fishing is regulated, you must take a fishing license from the Aydat tourist office. You can fish for fried fish, roach, perch, trout, tench, carp (Night fishing possible), zander, pike. Card price : 8€/adult, 5€/enfant.
🦋 The wet zone : Take a walk and discover its biodiversity
You will find at the entrance of the Veyre into the lake a wetland, a walk on pontoons and wooden footbridges will allow you to discover it. This wetland has a double interest, it allows the phosphorus brought by the Veyre upstream of the lake to be filtered, it is also the place of tremendous biodiversity, it shelters a varied fauna and flora. Guided tours are organized from July to November on Thursday mornings.
🚶🏻♂️ Hiking : Around the lake on foot or by mountain bike
A loop does the lake tour, more of 5 kilometers of walking et 100 meters of positive altitude difference. Easy walk that can be done with children (Full tour not suitable for strollers). More than half of the hike is on tarmac (roadside or sidewalk above the lake), still bring good shoes because some passages can be slippery. Dogs are accepted on the route but must be kept on a leash.
🚵♀️ Outdoor activities on site and nearby
Want to do an activity at Lake Aydat, summer is tan, bathing, nautical base activities, summer market, craft market, concerts. Around many marked hikes in the surrounding area, ascent of a volcano in the Chaine des Puys, Puy de la Vache, Puy de Lassolas, Puy de Combegrasse, Narse d’Espinasse, Mont Redon, Tour of Lac de la Cassière, Serre Plateau, Puy de Pariou, Puy de Dome… Without forgetting the GR30 circuit passing nearby. Several outdoor activities are offered around the lake, escape game, laser game, sound-light journey, course d’orientation, tree climbing, electric mountain bike rental…
🚌 A shuttle from Clermont-Ferrand
During the summer period (July August), a shuttle propose 4 Return trip every day from Les Salins bus station to Lac d’Aydat (With a stop at Beaumont Town Hall (10 minutes after departure time). Departure from Clermont-Fd bus station at 9:30 a.m., at 1:30 p.m., at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., 30 minutes of travel. Return direction Aydat-Clermont, departure at 10:30 a.m., at 2:30 p.m., at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.. 3€ one way, 6€ round trip, free ride for children under 5 ans, free for car season ticket holders in the region (Oura transport ticket).