One of the largest man-made lakes in the south of France
With more than 1,200 hectares of water and about 130 kilometres of shoreline cut into coves and peninsulas, Pareloup is one of the largest man-made lakes in the south of France. It is not a natural lake: it is a reservoir created in the mid-20th century by EDF, the French electricity company, whose dam works began in the late 1940s to produce hydroelectric power on the Vioulou. Seventy years on, the result no longer looks at all like an industrial project: the shores have become wooded, beaches have appeared, and Pareloup has become the go-to swimming spot for the whole of central Aveyron. The lake is shared between several lakeside villages, including Salles-Curan, which remains our main landmark when we take friends there for the first time.
Our favourite beaches
On the east shore, around Salles-Curan, there are sandy beaches with lifeguarded swimming areas in July and August, toilets and a bit of shade for children who tire quickly in the sun. It is our default choice for a family afternoon: the water stays shallow for quite a distance, which is reassuring for little ones. On the west shore, near Arvieu, the beach is quieter and less busy in high season, and it is the one we recommend if you mainly want to read in peace with your feet in the grass, just a few steps from the water to cool off. Our tip: arrive before midday in July and August, as the car parks at the best-known beaches fill up fast after 2 pm on sunny days.
Water sports for every level
Pareloup is also the area's great water playground: pedalo, paddleboard and canoe hire for a gentle outing near the shore, sailing and catamarans for those who want to make the most of the wind that blows regularly across the plateau, and motorised activities (water-skiing, towed inflatables) for more energetic moods. We don't give specific addresses here (providers change from one season to the next), but rental points are usually right on the main beaches, especially on the Salles-Curan side. The lake is also very popular for fishing: pike, zander and trout thrive here, provided you have a valid fishing permit.
Around the lake, several paths follow the shore or cross the lakeside hamlets: a chance to stretch the day with a short walk between swims, without ever losing sight of the water for long. We particularly love summer late afternoons, when the light skims the surface of the lake and the sailing boats quietly return to their moorings, a moment we warmly recommend to anyone who can afford to linger a little before driving back.
Our advice: give it the whole day
Allow about 50 minutes by car from the cottage to reach the east shore of Pareloup, on a road that climbs gradually up to the plateau. Given the size of the lake and the variety of things to do there, beach, sailing, fishing, walking paths, we would much rather see you spend a full day there than combine it with another outing the same day. The altitude of the Lévézou (around 800 metres) makes a real difference compared with the valley: evenings are cooler there, even in high summer, so bring a windproof jacket despite the bright sunshine when you leave the cottage.