Lake Pareloup: beaches, activities and tips to make the most of it

On the Lévézou plateau, more than 800 metres above sea level, Lake Pareloup is the main summer destination in the Aveyron. With around 1 260 hectares of water and more than a hundred kilometres of shoreline, broken up by peninsulas and coves, it is one of the largest reservoirs in France and an ideal playground for swimming and water sports.

Here is what you need to know to make the most of it: the supervised beaches, the activities, the walks around the lake and the campsites on the water’s edge.

Lake Pareloup at a glance

A lake created for hydroelectric power

Pareloup is an artificial lake, created in the early 1950s by building a dam on the Vioulou. It is part of the major Lévézou hydroelectric scheme, which links several reservoirs, including Pont-de-Salars, Villefranche-de-Panat and la Gourde. The water level varies with electricity production and the seasons: it is generally high in summer, when people come to swim.

The beaches of Lake Pareloup

Several developed beaches line the lake. The busiest are supervised in July and August, generally in the afternoon:

• the Les Vernhes beaches, at Salles-Curan, two free beaches linked by a path, much loved by families;
• the Arvieu-Pareloup beach, on the west bank, with its leisure centre;
• the Canet-de-Salars beach, north of the lake.

Outside the supervised beaches, swimming is at your own risk. Dogs are not allowed on the supervised beaches. Before setting off, check the water quality results published by the ARS.

Water sports

With its large surface area and steady winds, Pareloup is an excellent lake for sailing: the water sports centres at Salles-Curan, Arvieu and Canet-de-Salars offer lessons and hire of dinghies, catamarans and windsurfers. You can also hire kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats and small electric boats to explore the coves.

The lake is also renowned for fishing: pikeperch, pike, perch and carp are caught from the bank or from a boat, with a fishing permit valid in the Aveyron.

Walking and cycling around the lake

A trail lets you go round the lake in stages, through pine forests, meadows and peninsulas. The Charouzech peninsula, near Salles-Curan, and that of the Mas Atché offer lovely walks with views over the water. The Lévézou plateau is also suited to mountain biking and cycling, on small, little-used roads.

Things to see around Pareloup

• the village of Salles-Curan, with its former château of the bishops of Rodez;
• the other lakes of the Lévézou, such as those of Pont-de-Salars and Villefranche-de-Panat, which are quieter;
• Rodez, its cathedral and the Musée Soulages, about 40 minutes away;
• Millau and its viaduct, about forty minutes to the south.

Where to camp by Lake Pareloup?

Our selection includes many campsites beside a lake in the Aveyron, several of them on the shores of Pareloup. At Canet-de-Salars, the Soleil Levant campsite sits right by the lake, with a heated indoor pool for cooler days, and the Le Caussanel campsite also borders the lake. At Salles-Curan, the Beau Rivage campsite is close to the Les Vernhes beaches. You can also find all our campsites by the water in Canet-de-Salars.

Our verdict

Pareloup offers a refreshing alternative to the sea: space, pleasant water in summer, free beaches and a real choice of water sports. Come in July or August to enjoy the supervised beaches, or in June and September for peace and quiet. And take the time to discover the still little-known Lévézou plateau.