Lake Saint-Ferréol, an unmissable destination in the heart of the Montagne Noire in the Tarn

Want to go for a walk? Go for a swim? Relax, or simply have a good time with family or friends ? Head straight to Lac de Saint-Ferréol in Sorèze, a French dam nestled in a valley on the Laudot river. Accessible all year round, it's the ideal destination for a breath of fresh air in the Tarn!

Lake Saint-Ferréol, a historic reservoir to discover in Sorèze

Open your eyes wide to admire this magnificent expanse of water with a surface area of 67 hectares, 1,600m long with more than 6 million m3 of water. Located in the heart of the Montagne Noire, this green setting is the work of the lord of Bonrepos Pierre-Paul Riquet who built the ^first artificial water reservoir in France between 1667 and 1672. Over time, it doubled in volume with the intervention of Vauban and was equipped with 2 additional valves in the middle of the ^19th century. Unsurprisingly, the Lac de Saint-Ferréol is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, attracting the curious and nature lovers who discover the waterfalls, the English-style park, the dike wall and the famous sheaf of Saint-Ferréol.

Lake Saint-Ferréol, a bucolic setting for a beautiful family day out in the Tarn

What a pleasure to find yourself in this privileged setting, between the scents of pine trees, the fine sandy beaches and the wooded areas equipped with picnic tables. Less than 10 minutes from the center of Sorèze, the Lac de Saint-Ferréol invites you to relax and unwind, a pleasant place to enjoy a good time with family or friends. After lunch in the shade of the trees, take a lovely one-hour walk around the lake. The 4.5 km of trails are designed to accommodate strollers, roller skates and bicycles for the enjoyment of young and old alike. And if the desire for a snack arises, restaurants located on the banks are happy to welcome you at any time of the day.

Lake Saint-Ferréol, the perfect place for water activities in the Tarn

Is the summer season here? Put on your swimsuit or a wetsuit for those who are more sensitive to the cold and head to Lake Saint-Ferréol for a refreshing day of splashing around! Swimming is permitted and even supervised from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in summer (from July ¹ to August 31), with a lovely beach for sunbathing after a few strokes in a pool with a maximum depth of 32 meters. The more athletic can also head to the "La Calyspo" water sports center in Sorèze, which offers canoe, paddleboard, pedal boat, windsurfing, and catamaran rentals.

Lake Saint-Ferréol, land activities accessible to all in the Tarn

Water is not the only attraction of this landscaped pool which offers many possibilities to have fun without getting soaked, such as walks or bike rides on the 4.5 km of trails but also:

• Fishing for zander, perch or carp in this beautiful lowland lake,
• Tennis,
• Horse riding,
• Caving with Lo des Cavernes in Sorèze…

As well as land activities once again offered by La Calypso, a nautical and leisure center, including orienteering, Escal'Arbre, trampolines, roller skis and even sports tournaments.

Lake Saint-Ferréol, some practical information to know

This French reservoir is located in the Tarn, but also extends into Haute-Garonne and Aude, surrounded by 4 communes which are Sorèze, Vaudreuille, Revel and Les Brunels. You therefore have several accesses available to reach the Lac de Saint-Ferréol with parking nearby, but also a bus stop just 10 minutes walk from the lake. Escape to the Tarn and discover the possible excursions in Sorèze around the Lac de Saint-Ferréol with:

• Véloccitanie via the Green Way from Sorèze to Lenclas
• The Green Way
• The Arles Way GR653
• The GR7

A wonderful escape to Lake Saint-Ferréol in the Tarn !

Did you like our article? Find more in our Experiences to Live section . Follow us on the Tarn Aveyron Guide Facebook page and on Instagram @guidedutarnaveyron