At 1,000 metres in altitude, in the commune of Le Lac-d'Issarlès in Upper Ardèche, bordered by the Lozère and the Haute-Loire, tucked away in an old volcanic crater is a round turquoise-blue expanse of water, covering 80 hectares. Benefitting from favoured natural surroundings of verdant hills, Issarlès Lake is particularly good for relaxation and water sports. Bathing (supervised in July and August), lounging around on the beach, picnics with family and friends, trout or char fishing, paddle boats, canoeing and windsurfing are all on offer here. A pleasant footpath through the undergrowth gives ramblers the chance to go around the lake in about an hour.
To have a lovely view of the whole of the lake, take the path to the Col du Gage belvedere, situated high up, 1.5 kilometres to the south-east of the village.