In the south of the Massif Central is the start of the Lot-Truyère valley with its 560 kms which flow into the Atlantic Ocean. The Truyère is the starting point of the Lot valley. We can first discover its natural part towards the Margeride then it will flow into the Grandval lake, better known by its exceptional work: the Garabit Viaduct. This major work of Monsieur Eiffel, was built with the Eiffel Tower and is based exactly on the architecture of our most beautiful national monument. The Grandval lake offers an exceptional area for sailing and water sports, as well as a supervised beach. For their next family holiday, holidaymakers can opt for tented camping pitches, a chalet or one of the mobile homes at your family campsite with a heated, covered swimming pool and a paddling pool by the river.
Then from the Barrage de Grandval, the river Truyère flows into Lac de Lanau, where we are. With its thirteen kilometres of waterway, starting from the dam, 400 metres from the Auvergne campsite, this site is exceptional because it can only be approached from the water. Indeed, no banks, nor roads, only the access to the islands of the lake will plunge you into a protected area “Natura 2000” . Early in the morning, you will be able to see the big animals drinking in the lake, deer and hinds, but also the big birds of prey going through “their area”, kites and royal kites, a couple of ospreys, if you let your eyes contemplate the sky a little…
Starting from the nautical base… Canoeing day, with the family, with a picnic in the middle of the islands, and a little swim if you fall in the water, it happens! Be careful, it can be cold…. The Truyère river will take its course again, just after the Lanau dam, we overlook the dam from the terraces of the camping Le Belvédère, offering us a view of the lake as well as of the valley discovering the river in its natural part. To discover it, a small hike at the exit of the village, allows to follow its banks on a few kilometres before throwing itself in the lake of Sarrans.
As part of the “Sites de France”, the lakes of Grandval and Lanau are involved in a classification procedure which, we hope, will be completed in two to three years. This will allow our future generations to preserve these exceptional sites in their present form, preserving the bio-diversity of this beautiful department of the Cantal in a sustainable way.
