It is in the heart of the Limousin, straddling the departments of Creuse and Haute-Vienne, and backed by the Millevaches plateau that Lake Vassivière was created. It was in 1950 that this 106 million cubic meter reservoir began to produce electricity. Even today, the 2,585-meter-long underground pipe that connects the lake to the generators produces the equivalent of the electricity consumption of a city of 40,000 inhabitants like Brive every year
A surprising geography
It is not without reason that the lake of Vassivière is nicknamed the Canada of New Aquitaine. It is also in this way that Laurence Puissant a communication officer at the tourist office and a boater, describes the lake she loves so much: " Here you feel like you are in Canada and in the fjords at the same time. The lake offers 8 islands, which can be reached by boat or on foot. Each one has its own character. The island of Vassivière offers an international art and landscape center and the island of Vauvay offers sandbanks reminiscent of the Antilles. "
This 1,000-hectare lake has been developed and made welcoming by the configuration of the valley it covers. The bottoms are gently sloping, with no plumb line. " The dam itself is gentle, without a drop. It is almost invisible to those who do not know about it "explains the manager.
Family and relaxing lake
In the lake, diving is allowed but " it is of little interest because the lake water is very ferruginous and quickly becomes very dark "explains Laurence. However, don't be mistaken, divers as well as boaters can exploit the waters of Vassivière without fear, they won't come out covered with iron oxide for all that!
The lake of Vassivière seen in Winter
" Lake Vassivière is above all a preserved place and kept as natural as possible " continues the manager. " People come here, and I come here too, to rest and relax. The activities offered on the lake are organized in such a way as to preserve these oases of peace and quiet. We want at all costs that the lake does not become a place dedicated to this or that practice. Vassivière must remain a multipurpose lake, with beaches [Editor's note: 5 which are all supervised in season] fishing, motorboating or even lazing around "she insists.
It must be said that there is no shortage of water sports activities on the lake. Canoeing, paddle, kayaking, boating. All those who want to have a good time on the water can do so. They can also attend great events: " We host the French Paddle Championship in inland waters in October "adds our guide.
Located one hour from Aubusson and one hour from Limoges, the lake unfortunately does not offer public transportation to reach these two regional centers of activity. Only the rental of bicycles and mountain bikes allows you to move around, if you do not wish to use your personal vehicle.
These bicycles will be indispensable for visiting the 30 kilometers of the lakefront trail which has 45 kilometers of shoreline. Finally, the circumlacustrine route measures 23 kilometers and allows you to discover the diversity of landscapes that surround this unique body of water.
Lake sailing and sport sailing
Sailing enthusiasts - both sail and motor - are not left out on the lake. A boater herself, Mrs. Puissant explains: "The lake offers the possibility of lake hopping by traveling from island to island. The landscapes are all different in each creek or each cape that we cross here. Be careful though, Vassivière is not an easy lake . Surrounded by particularly hilly terrain, the wind currents and veins are particularly changeable and can be surprising."
It is these winds that encourage many sailors to come every weekend from Easter to All Saints' Day to test themselves against the difficulties of such a stretch of water.
" The lake is only used for sport sailing "explains the manager " the infrastructures to welcome as well as to launch large sailboats are not in place. "
Motorboats have all the space they need on the lake, in clearly defined areas. With the exception of jet-skis: " They were accepted at one time, but we had too many complaints about noise pollution." explains Laurence Puissant.
Impressive range of nautical services
Each of the two areas open to motorboats has a water ski club and a pontoon. The list of nautical facilities and infrastructures is surprisingly long: " We have a total of 9 ports (6 are public, 2 are private and 1 is reserved for the yacht club) which offer a total of 500 places, available for the day, the weekend or the year ", explains the Tourism Committee.
Each of the 6 ports open to the public has its own slipway. One of these harbors - Nergout - remains open 12 months a year, while the others close at the end of the season. Boat owners who have a mooring can use the service station - accessible by boat - to fill up with fuel.
Places on the pontoons must be reserved at the tourist office. A certain number of overnight or weekly places are available and are almost all located near the campsites.
The sanitary facilities are available, free of charge, to all users of the lake.
If navigation is free on the lake, "i you must have a coastal license with the extension for inland waters. Moreover, it is forbidden to sleep on board your boat outside the pontoons "explains the manager " and the speed limit, outside of ski areas, is 20 km/h. "
In terms of safety, it should be noted that the firemen are the only rescue workers on the water for boaters. They can be reached at the usual telephone numbers ( 18 or 112 ) and there is no VHF watch. The beaches are supervised by lifeguards who are only active in the swimming areas.
" Windsurfers have a dedicated space on the banks of the Sournet, on the Broussas side and those who need equipment can visit the Mille Nautique store in Peyrat Le Chateau ", adds the manager.
Because there is something missing, there is no dry port around the water.
Yacht Club Services
In addition to these services, the Vassivière Yacht Club has the means to make some maritime structures pale in comparison, which it uses for its weekly regattas:
- A crane for launching sailboats (1.5 ton max)
- A concrete descent for the launching of the boat
- Three pontoons allowing the reception of about a hundred livable sailboats
- A 150 m2 hangar for the boats of the sailing and sports school
- A race committee cabin on land allowing the organization of regattas on fixed buoys anchored on a large part of the water
- A committee boat for the start of regattas on constructed courses
- Safety boats
The choice of the guide
Living near the lake and going there daily, the communication manager has a precise vision of this aquatic jewel. She tells us her preferences: " I live near the lake. I feel good everywhere, it's a heartbreaker to have to make a choice. A must-see is the Chassagnas peninsula, which offers the only 180° view on the lake. It is necessary, on foot, to take the shore path and to follow the different steps for a contact with the water and the lake. Then, at the end of the day, the interpretation trail of the moor of the well of the cross and its orientation table. "
Rest assured, if there is something to see around the lake, there is no lack of things to do on the water. Laurence recommends us the Island of Vauvay : " This place is called Guadeloupe. For a simple reason: Get stranded on one of the sandbanks and settle down for a picnic. A change of scenery is guaranteed, and in summer, think of the sun cream. The shallowness of the place makes that the water is particularly warm and that there is almost no current. "She adds, " i spend entire days there! "
" Don't forget the island of Vassivière, too. To visit for the place and for the incongruity of the center which one finds there. You have to go there without any preconceived ideas about art and expect to be surprised, it doesn't fail! "
Finally, the communication manager concludes: " In summer, you should not miss one of the countless "guinguettes" on the beaches. The atmosphere is always relaxed and family oriented. For a quick lunch, the restaurant on the beach of Broussat offers salads made with local products. More chic, l'escale, a brasserie with a view on the lake, offers boat trips. "
With all that Lake Vassivière has to offer, it would be a shame not to launch your boat!
