Lac de Chaumeçon

Lac de Chaumeçon is an artificial reservoir about 7 kilometres east of Lormes, created by damming the Chalaux river in the forested hills of the Morvan. It stretches four kilometres through the trees, with a small island towards the eastern end, and the surrounding woodland keeps the banks wild-feeling despite being easily accessible by car.

This is the nearest swimming lake to Lormes and a natural target for a half-day excursion. The banks are rocky and shaded rather than beachy, but the water is clear, the forest smells good, and the whole setting has the satisfying remoteness of the deeper Morvan. A walking trail circles part of the lake. The village of Brassy, on the slope above the southern shore, has a café that opens in summer.

things to do sight
A story
The reservoir fills a valley carved by two rivers — the Chalaux and the Porcmignon — and stores 19 million cubic metres of water. At 400 metres elevation and surrounded by Morvan forest, the lake runs cold enough that even in July the water takes some getting used to; hardy swimmers treat this as a selling point.