Lac de Gérardmer Lake

Address: Lac de Gérardmer, Gérardmer, Vosges, Grand Est, France

Admission: Free (some recreational services and parking may charge fees)

Lac de Gérardmer is a natural lake in the Vosges department of northeastern France, next to the town of Gérardmer. It is one of the principal lakes in the Vosges mountains and a local center for leisure and tourism.

Shoreline promenades, beaches and facilities for boating and swimming are the main attractions, and the immediate area supports walking routes and lakeside cafes. Activities are seasonal, with swimming and boating in warmer months and lakeside walks throughout the year.

The lake is a natural basin formed in the mountainous Vosges landscape; the town of Gérardmer developed as a tourist and resort settlement on its shores. Over the last century the lakeside has been adapted for recreation and accommodation for visitors.

It sits in the Vosges mountains in the Grand Est region, immediately adjacent to the town of Gérardmer and surrounded by forested slopes and ski and hiking areas.

• Access: Has a town directly on its shore with promenades, beaches and a small marina that support seasonal tourism and watersports.

By car via RN417 and local D-roads from Épinal or Colmar; regional buses serve Gérardmer from nearby towns. The town center and lakeside promenades are walkable from local parking.

• Stroll the lakeside promenade early in the morning to avoid boats and tourist groups; light on the water is best around 7-9am in summer.
• Walk up the Circuit des Roches for good panoramas of the lake and the town - it is less crowded than the central promenade.
• Winter offers frozen surfaces and cross-country ski trails; check local tourist office for safe skating conditions.