Lac de Serre-Ponçon Lake

Lac de Serre-Ponçon is a large artificial reservoir in southeastern France, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. It was formed by damming the Durance River and is one of the largest reservoirs in Western Europe.

The lake is used for hydropower, irrigation and flood control, and its shoreline supports recreational activities including boating and swimming at lakeside towns. The reservoir has a broad surface area and is framed by alpine foothills.

Construction of the dam that created the lake was carried out in the 1950s and early 1960s as part of regional river management and hydropower development. The project altered river flows and created the current impounded lake.

Lac de Serre-Ponçon sits between the departments of Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in southeastern France, near towns such as Embrun and Savines-le-Lac and within driving distance of larger regional centres like Gap.

• Creation: Formed in the early 1960s by damming the Durance River, creating one of Western Europe’s largest artificial reservoirs with a surface area around 28 square kilometres.
• Viewing points: Popular vantage points include viewpoints above the dam and lakeside towns such as Embrun and Savines-le-Lac, which provide panoramic views of the reservoir and surrounding Alps.

What to See#

• Barrage de Serre-Ponçon: The Serre-Ponçon dam on the Durance River, the structure that created the lake and controls river flows for hydropower and irrigation.

Lac de Serre-Ponçon is accessible by road from nearby towns such as Embrun (which lies on the lake’s shore) and Gap. From Gap the drive to the lake is roughly 20-35 km (about 25-40 minutes) via the D994/D900 routes through the Durance valley; follow local departmental roads (D994/D900/Durance valley roads) and signs to towns on the lake such as Embrun, Savines-le-Lac or Chorges. The lake area is best reached by car; regional buses connect Gap and other towns to lakeside villages, with short walks from village bus stops to viewpoints and beaches.

• Best times: visit early morning or late afternoon for calmer water, softer light and fewer beach crowds; Savines-le-Lac and Embrun are the most convenient bases for lake access and rentals.
• Entrance/access: use the main access points at Savines-le-Lac (northern shore) or Embrun (eastern shore) for boat hire, beaches and lakeside facilities; the dam viewpoint is worth a short stop for panoramas.
• What most visitors miss: the quieter scenic drives and viewpoints along the lake's southern shore and the small villages that offer different perspectives-take the secondary lakeside roads for less-crowded viewing spots.
• Avoiding peak crowds: if you can't avoid summer, aim for weekdays or the shoulder seasons (late spring, early autumn) when the water and facilities are still enjoyable but visitor numbers are lower.