Beaches and lakes in Haute-Vienne: where to go swimming this summer

Lake Saint-Pardoux, near Limoges

Located in the Limousin mountains, around twenty kilometres north-west of Limoges, Lake Saint-Pardoux is a top destination for swimming, water sports and outdoor activities in the Haute-Vienne department.

Santrop Beach

Santrop Beach, in Razès, offers a large stretch of sand equipped for supervised swimming in summer, alongside a wide range of water sports available during the summer season. The site also features a swimming pool open all year round with outdoor pools in summer, as well as a treetop adventure course with zip lines over the lake.

Chabannes Beach

Chabannes Beach, in Compreignac, offers supervised swimming and a wide range of water sports suitable for families and groups of friends, such as sailing, pedalos and kayaking. Picnic areas and shaded spots mean you can spend the whole day at the beach.

Fréaudour Beach

Fréaudour Beach, in Saint-Pardoux-le-Lac, is supervised in summer and offers wakeboarding and other water sports. The natural setting is ideal for enjoying a day by the water in a lush green environment.

Lake Vassivière, the ‘Little Canada’ of the Limousin

Lake Vassivière, straddling the Haute-Vienne and Creuse departments, is one of the largest artificial lakes in France. Situated on the Miillevaches plateau in the east of the department, it offers vast supervised beaches and facilities suitable for families and water sports enthusiasts. Renowned for the excellent quality of its waters, bathing conditions are regularly monitored to ensure ideal conditions throughout the season. On the Haute-Vienne side, you can enjoy the following beaches:

Auphelle Beach – Peyrat-le-Château

Auphelle Beach, in Peyrat-le-Château, is a large, supervised beach with large wooden play structures for children, a snack bar, hire points for pedalos, canoes, paddleboards and motorboats, as well as picnic areas for families.

Nergout Beach – Beaumont-du-Lac

Nergout Beach, in Beaumont-du-Lac, is a family-friendly beach with lifeguards on duty. It features shallow areas suitable for children and easy access to car parks, relaxation areas and a pizzeria overlooking the lake.

Pierrefitte Beach – Beaumont-du-Lac

Pierrefitte Beach, also in Beaumont-du-Lac, is a small, well-maintained beach on the lake, ideal for those seeking a quieter spot. There are lifeguards on duty, and a car park and water sports club are available nearby.

Find out more about the beaches on Lake Vassivière.

Leisure centres with supervised swimming

These sites offer supervised beaches during the summer months and facilities suitable for families.

Saint-Mathieu lake

Located at the south-western tip of Haute-Vienne, the Saint-Mathieu lake offers a leisure centre with a supervised beach in the afternoons from Tuesday to Sunday. Families can spend the day there in a leafy setting and enjoy pedalos, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or tiralo.

Sainte-Hélène Beach, Bujaleuf Lake

Set within a 70-hectare lake in Bujaleuf, at the gateway to the Limousin mountains, Sainte-Hélène Beach features a developed beach with supervised swimming, as well as relaxation areas and water sports such as pedalos, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding and water skiing.

Espace Hermeline – Bussière-Galant

In the heart of the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park, the Espace Hermeline in Bussière-Galant is a leisure centre with a supervised beach and activities for children. Picnic areas and walking trails complete the facilities.

Lake Châteauneuf-la-Forêt

On the shores of a 12-hectare lake in Châteauneuf-la-Forêt, discover a vast beach supervised in summer with designated swimming areas and picnic spots in the Monts-et-Barrages area, east of Limoges.

Arfeuille Lake – Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche

Arfeuille Lake is a developed beach with supervised swimming, surrounded by the forests and green spaces of the Vienne Valley. The site is easily accessible from Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche.

La Roche Lake – Meuzac

Not far from Mont Gargan, the La Roche lake in Meuzac offers a developed beach and supervised swimming in summer. Ideal for families, the site also offers water sports such as stand-up paddleboarding and pedalos. It is also the starting point for numerous walking trails.

Natural lakes for swimming

These sites are more natural yet accessible lakes, often partially supervised and situated in unspoilt settings.

Sussac lake

In the Limousin Mountains, Sussac Lake offers a developed beach and supervised swimming in a peaceful natural setting, close to the Limousin Mountains.

Cognac-la-Forêt Lake

The Cognac-la-Forêt lake, also situated in the Limousin mountains, is a small family-friendly beach where you can swim, surrounded by a peaceful, green environment.

Puychaumartin – Château-Chervix lake

The Puychaumartin lake offers supervised swimming from mid-July to mid-August in a lush, unspoilt setting, ideal for picnicking or relaxing in the south of Haute-Vienne. Play equipment for children is available, as well as a pump track. Disabled access to the swimming area.

Martineix Beach - Saint-Julien-le-Petit

On the banks of the Maulde, the Saint-Julien-le-Petit has a small natural beach with lifeguards on duty all summer, except on Tuesday afternoons. This unspoilt spot in the heart of the Maulde Valley is perfect for enjoying the surrounding countryside.

Hidden swimming spots in the department

These lesser-known or secondary sites offer pleasant spots for swimming, often less crowded and sometimes unsupervised.

Soleil Levant lake – Saint-Martin-Terressus

Located in the Vienne valley, the Soleil Levant lake is a small, developed lake where you can swim and enjoy a picnic in peaceful surroundings.

Étang de Sagnat – Bessines-sur-Gartempe

The 24-hectare Sagnat lake, in the Limousin mountains, is classified as a Natural Area of Ecological, Faunistic and Floristic Interest. It offers supervised swimming in summer, ideal for a family day out to also enjoy the playground, the pétanque court or the tree-top adventure course.

Peyrat-le-Château Lake

On the Millevaches plateau, the Peyrat-le-Château lake is a small natural body of water offering peaceful and accessible swimming, perfect for moments of relaxation.

Lake Plaisance – Saint-Hilaire-les-Places

Lac Plaisance has a leisure centre where you can swim, set in the lush green surroundings typical of the Monts du Limousin.

La Chassagne Beach – Videix

Chassagne Beach is situated on Lake Videix, within the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park. It offers supervised swimming in summer and, in particular, pedalos for hire to explore the lake.

Jonas Pond – Ambazac

Located at the foot of the Limousin mountains, 30 minutes from Limoges, the pond Jonas offers supervised swimming in a 22-hectare lake, with walking trails and picnic areas nearby.

Lake Saint-Fortunat – Flavignac

Lac Saint-Fortunat, situated in Flavignac in the rolling countryside of the Vienne Valley, is a small, tranquil lake ideal for a peaceful swim, with lifeguards on duty during the summer months. The site also features a play area for children and adults alike.

La Croisille-sur-Briance lake

On the edge of the Briance Valley, the La Croisille-sur-Briance lake is a natural site perfect for enjoying a calm and unspoilt environment.

Find out more about the lakes and water bodies of Haute-Vienne

Campsites in Haute-Vienne near lakes and water bodies

Haute-Vienne has 54 campsites spread across the department, offering convenient access to the lakes, beaches and water bodies featured in this article. It is possible to stay right next to most of the lakes and water bodies, making it easy to enjoy swimming and water sports.

Many of these campsites are unclassified, meaning they offer very basic facilities, ideal for those seeking a holiday close to nature. For a slightly higher level of comfort, there are 15 three-star campsites, offering amenities such as modern toilet facilities, children’s play areas and summer entertainment, as well as a few four-star campsites for a more comfortable and well-equipped holiday.

Practical tips for enjoying swimming in Haute-Vienne

To make the most of the lakes, beaches and water bodies in Haute-Vienne, it is important to stay vigilant and take a few simple precautions. Check the beach lifeguard timetables carefully: even at supervised sites, you should keep a close eye on children and stay within the designated swimming areas.

Most of the department’s water bodies offer very satisfactory water quality, but it is always advisable to check the information boards on site before swimming.

Finally, respect the environment and nature: the shores and banks are often protected, and it is essential not to leave any litter behind and to protect the local flora and fauna. Remember to protect yourself from the sun with an eco-friendly sunscreen, to avoid polluting these often fragile ecosystems.