The most beautiful swimming spots in the Ain: lakes, rivers and leisure centres

Supervised lakes in the Ain for swimming

Lake Nantua

Surrounded by mountains, Lake Nantua is one of the most famous swimming spots in the department. Its large, well-equipped beach, which is supervised in summer, offers a spacious and pleasant area for families. The water is renowned for its clarity and swimming is well supervised during the summer season.

Lake Genin

Nicknamed "Little Canada", Lake Genin charms visitors with its peaceful forest setting. Swimming is permitted and supervised in summer. The site remains very natural, with cool water that is ideal for hot days.

Lake Cormoranche

On the outskirts of Mâcon, Lake Cormoranche offers a large sandy beach, which is supervised every summer. It is one of the most family-friendly swimming areas, with shallow water near the shore and comfortable facilities.

Lake Virieu-le-Grand

Lake Virieu-le-Grand is an ideal place for family swimming in a preserved natural setting. Its beach is supervised during the summer season. Outside of supervision hours, swimming is still permitted but at the swimmers' own risk. This lake is an excellent alternative for those looking for a calm and accessible swimming experience, while remaining close to the typical landscapes of southern Bugey. Find out more.

Lake Barterand (Pollieu)

Located at the foot of Grand Colombier, the natural lake of Barterand is accessible for swimming. Although it is not supervised everywhere, one area is equipped and regularly frequented in summer. Its natural setting makes it a popular spot for peaceful swimming. Find out more.

Leisure centres in the Ain

Île Chambod (Hautecourt-Romanèche)

Île Chambod is one of the department's iconic sites, with privileged access to the Ain river in a peaceful setting surrounded by limestone cliffs. It offers a large beach that is equipped and supervised during the season, and water games are available in July and August. When it comes to water sports, choose from paddleboarding, canoeing, pedal boating, fishing and boating.

Point-Vert leisure centre (Serrières-de-Briord)

The Point-Vert leisure centre, located on a 200-hectare lake at the foot of the Bugey, offers a supervised beach in summer and a lake suitable for families. Swimming is clearly supervised, with a large grassy area and a pleasant environment on the banks of the Rhône.

La Plaine Tonique: family leisure centre (Malafretaz)

La Plaine Tonique stretches around Lake Montrevel-en-Bresse and offers a complete swimming and leisure experience. Its 500-metre sandy beach is supervised during the summer season, while the aquatic centre offers pools, paddling pools and slides for young and old alike. The lake also offers water sports such as pedalos and kayaking, and picnic and leisure areas complete the package for a successful family day out.

Divonne-les-Bains Beach – DV Beach

Located on Lake Divonne, Divonne-les-Bains beach is a small seaside resort on the lake shore. This beach, which is equipped and supervised in July and August, offers a friendly swimming experience combining relaxation, leisure and a summer atmosphere. Enjoy the inflatable water games and treat yourself to a paddle or canoe trip on the lake.

To prolong the experience, the DV Beach (bar and restaurant) welcomes you in an idyllic setting, where you can relax and enjoy the view of the lake and Mont Blanc.

Bouvent leisure centre

In Bourg-en-Bresse, the Bouvent centre welcomes swimmers to a supervised beach during the season. The lake is easily accessible and surrounded by large green spaces and shaded areas. With water sports, swimming, picnics and walks around the site, the Bouvent leisure centre has something for the whole family.

La Grange du Pin Leisure and Nature Centre

Located in the heart of a preserved natural environment, La Grange du Pin lake offers a beautiful supervised swimming area in summer. The water is calm and the setting is particularly popular for a relaxing day out.

Outdoor swimming in Champdor

This municipal swimming spot in Champdor offers a well-equipped and easily accessible area, appreciated for its family atmosphere. The area is calm and ideal for a refreshing break in summer.

Swimming at Lake Lalleyriat

The village of Lalleyriat has a small lake where swimming is permitted and facilities are available in season. It is a simple, natural spot that is very popular with locals and visitors alike.

Culoz lake and leisure centre

Close to the Rhône, the Culoz leisure centre offers a pleasant beach, supervised in summer, with calm waters suitable for family swimming.

Miribel-Jonage leisure centre

At the gateway to the Ain and the Grand Parc de Miribel-Jonage, the lake offers several supervised swimming areas, but these are mainly located on the Rhône side. The site remains one of the largest and most popular in the region during the summer.

Swimming in the Ain River

Swimming in the Ain river can be very enjoyable, but certain precautions must be taken. Water levels can vary rapidly depending on water releases or rainfall, and some areas are regulated or protected. It is therefore important to respect local signage, check water quality before swimming and choose sites that are equipped for swimming. Natural, unsupervised areas should be approached with caution, especially with children.

Among the best known and most accessible sites, Île Chambod and Merpuis beach offer a beach that is equipped and supervised in summer, with pontoons and facilities for water sports.

Priay beach has clear water and a sandy bottom, ideal for families, while Pont-d'Ain beach, on the left bank, is authorised for swimming and has good water quality, but is unsupervised.

Other natural areas allow swimming at your own risk, such as Saint-Maurice-de-Gourdans beach or the banks around Champdor, but they are less supervised and should be used with caution.

Campsites near swimming spots in the Ain

There are around sixty campsites to choose from in the Ain, several of which offer direct access to exceptional swimming spots.

In the south of the department, the La Plaine Tonique**** campsite in Montrevel-en-Bresse / Malafretaz offers immediate access to Lake Montrevel-en-Bresse, with its equipped and supervised beach, as well as a water park integrated into the leisure centre for enjoying water sports to the full.

Nearby, La Grange du Pin*** campsite in Val-Revermont has a lake with a beach and supervised swimming during the summer, ideal for families looking to relax by the water.

In the Bresse and Revermont area, Le Colombier*** campsite in Culoz allows you to enjoy the Culoz leisure centre, with swimming facilities at the foot of the campsite.

The Huttopia Divonne-les-Bains*** campsite combines swimming in Lake Divonne on site with access to DV Beach, located just two kilometres away, offering a wide range of water sports.

The Lac du Lit du Roi**** campsite in Massignieu-de-Rives has a beach with authorised swimming directly in front of the campsite. In Haut-Bugey, the Les Gorges du Haut-Bugey**** campsite in Matafelon-Granges is located a few kilometres from Île Chambod–Merpuis, a site renowned for its beach and supervised swimming. Finally, the L'Île de la Comtesse**** campsite in Murs-et-Gélignieux offers quick access to the Lac de Cuchet leisure centre, with its small beach on the other side of the lake.

On the river side, choose the Les Plages de l'Ain*** campsite in Saint-Maurice de Gourdans

These campsites are ideal starting points for discovering the most beautiful swimming spots in the Ain region while enjoying the comfort and charm of local accommodation.

Practical tips for enjoying swimming in the Ain

With its lakes, rivers and leisure centres, the Ain offers many places to cool off, but a few precautions are essential. Choose supervised areas, especially with children, and follow the instructions posted, particularly near the Ain river where the flow can vary rapidly depending on water releases. Before each outing, remember to check the water quality on the official websites. Finally, take the right steps to preserve the natural environment: avoid polluting sunscreen products, do not leave any rubbish behind and stay in authorised areas to limit erosion of the banks.