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LakeQuality

Lakes in France

Find lakes in France: 845 designated lake bathing waters classified under the EU Bathing Water Directive. 733 are rated Excellent for 2025.

The same country also has official phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and Secchi for 361 named lakes, sampled 2016–2026. Those are nutrient and clarity readings, a different measurement from the Directive's bacteria class.

Updated 2025

Excellent: 733Good: 50Sufficient: 13Poor: 15Not classified: 34

Lake map

Map shows 1,206 lakes with coordinates · list below has 947

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Best-rated lakes to swim in France

Officially classified Excellent for the 2025 bathing season, ranked by how often that class has held. Full best-lakes list →

  1. 1 LacExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  2. 3 Lac - Lac des PeupliersExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  3. A.s.p.t.tExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  4. Air FranceExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  5. Allevard - Lac de la MirandeExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  6. Ancienne Route des SallesExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  7. Annecy ImperialExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  8. Annecy les MarquisatsExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  9. Annecy-Le-Vieux AlbignyExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  10. Anthy Recorts - MunicipaleExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  11. Anthy SechexExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  12. Ar Lann VrasExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  13. Au Droit des Deux CampingsExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  14. AuphelleExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  15. Baie de la SaunaExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons

Every rated bathing water in France

Places in France

Named lakes

LakePlaceTotal phosphorusChlorophyll-aSecchiYear
Barrage D'ArgentatCorrèze—1.0 µg/L2.9 m2023
Barrage D'EnchanetCantal—1.0 µg/L2.9 m2023
Barrage D'Hagetmau-MonségurLandes29 µg/L6.6 µg/L1.2 m2023
Barrage de CandauGers39 µg/L5.9 µg/L0.6 m2022
Barrage de Castelnau-LassoutsAveyron—1.4 µg/L2.9 m2022
Barrage de CerceyCôte-d'Or—3.5 µg/L1.3 m2025
Barrage de CouesqueAveyron—1.0 µg/L2.7 m2020
Barrage de Duhort-BachenLandes97 µg/L6.9 µg/L0.8 m2023
Barrage de GarrabetAriège—1.8 µg/L3.4 m2022
Barrage de Gensac-LavitTarn-et-Garonne—18 µg/L0.5 m2023
Barrage de GolinhacAveyron—3.0 µg/L2.3 m2022
Barrage de GrandvalCantal—1.0 µg/L3.4 m2022
Barrage de HautefageCorrèze—1.1 µg/L3.1 m2023
Barrage de L'AiletteAisne—2.0 µg/L2.1 m2024
Barrage de L'AlzeauTarn—1.4 µg/L3.5 m2024
Barrage de L'Arrêt DarréHautes-Pyrénées19 µg/L2.0 µg/L2.3 m2021
Barrage de L'AyguelonguePyrénées-Atlantiques50 µg/L14 µg/L0.8 m2023
Barrage de la BaradéeGers21 µg/L7.0 µg/L0.8 m2023
Barrage de la GiouléLandes80 µg/L19 µg/L0.5 m2023
Barrage de la LiezHaute-Marne—6.0 µg/L1.4 m2026
Barrage de la MoucheHaute-Marne—4.5 µg/L2.5 m2025
Barrage de la TriouzouneCorrèze—2.5 µg/L2.4 m2024
Barrage de la ValetteCorrèze—2.1 µg/L2.6 m2024
Barrage de LanauCantal—1.1 µg/L2.5 m2022
Barrage de LaragouHaute-Garonne—11 µg/L0.9 m2024
Barrage de LavaudCharente—13 µg/L1.3 m2023
Barrage de LescourouxDordogne—6.1 µg/L1.2 m2022
Barrage de LunaxGers10 µg/L1.5 µg/L2.8 m2024
Barrage de MarègesCorrèze—1.0 µg/L3.4 m2021
Barrage de MialetDordogne—10 µg/L1.9 m2024
Barrage de Miramont-SensacqLandes105 µg/L13 µg/L0.6 m2022
Barrage de MontbelAriège—1.8 µg/L2.3 m2024
Barrage de Pannecière-ChaumardNièvre—9.0 µg/L2.4 m2026
Barrage de PinetAveyron—1.0 µg/L4.0 m2022
Barrage de PontCôte-d'Or—7.0 µg/L1.4 m2026
Barrage de PoucharrametHaute-Garonne—7.0 µg/L0.9 m2022
Barrage de PuydarrieuxHautes-Pyrénées31 µg/L2.8 µg/L1.4 m2024
Barrage de RabodangesOrne—9.0 µg/L1.5 m2026
Barrage de Saint-AgnanNièvre—8.0 µg/L1.2 m2026
Barrage de Saint-Etienne-CantalèsCantal—1.0 µg/L2.7 m2023
Barrage de Saint-JeanGers57 µg/L11 µg/L0.2 m2022
Barrage de SarransAveyron—1.0 µg/L4.0 m2022
Barrage de TailluretLandes111 µg/L26 µg/L0.3 m2022
Barrage des CharmesHaute-Marne—9.5 µg/L1.5 m2026
Barrage des MontagnèsTarn13 µg/L4.6 µg/L2.9 m2022
Barrage des SettonsNièvre—5.5 µg/L2.1 m2026
Barrage du BourdonYonne—8.0 µg/L1.4 m2026
Barrage du BrayssouLot-et-Garonne—8.2 µg/L1.1 m2023
Barrage du ChastangCorrèze—1.0 µg/L2.9 m2021
Barrage du CrescentNièvre—8.0 µg/L1.6 m2026
Barrage du FilleitAriège—1.7 µg/L2.5 m2022
Barrage du GastCalvados—15 µg/L1.4 m2026
Barrage du GouyréTarn-et-Garonne—7.1 µg/L1.2 m2023
Barrage du LizetGers27 µg/L7.9 µg/L0.6 m2020
Barrage du LouetHautes-Pyrénées17 µg/L3.4 µg/L2.5 m2022
Barrage du Mas ChabanCharente—7.0 µg/L1.5 m2022
Barrage du TordreTarn-et-Garonne—8.0 µg/L1.1 m2023
Barrage Les ChaumettesCorrèze—2.4 µg/L1.8 m2022
Barrage Reservoir Seine Lac de la Foret D Orient—15 µg/L——2021
Barrage-Réservoir AubeAube—3.0 µg/L3.0 m2025
Barrage-Réservoir de L'AstaracGers20 µg/L4.0 µg/L1.2 m2024
Barrage-Réservoir MarneMarne—1.5 µg/L2.8 m2024
Barrage-Réservoir SeineAube—2.0 µg/L5.0 m2024
Base de Loisirs de la Grande-ParoisseSeine-et-Marne—7.5 µg/L1.8 m2024
Base de Plein Air Et de Loisirs de JablinesSeine-et-Marne—1.0 µg/L4.6 m2025
Base de Plein Air Et de Loisirs de Moisson-MousseauxYvelines—3.0 µg/L1.7 m2025
Base Nautique de VenablesEure—18 µg/L1.0 m2024
Complexe D'EguzonIndre40 µg/L7.4 µg/L2.0 m2025
Complexe de ChardesVienne—2.1 µg/L0.8 m2016
Complexe de FontgombaultIndre—19 µg/L0.4 m2023
Complexe de GuerledanMorbihan20 µg/L4.0 µg/L2.6 m2025
Complexe de L'AgeCreuse—18 µg/L1.0 m2017
Complexe de la Roche TalamieCreuse30 µg/L4.0 µg/L1.2 m2023
Complexe de LavaletteHaute-Loire60 µg/L3.8 µg/L2.4 m2021
Complexe de MerventVendée20 µg/L8.2 µg/L1.6 m2025
Complexe de Moulin RibouMaine-et-Loire80 µg/L9.1 µg/L0.7 m2025
Complexe de RochebutCreuse50 µg/L26 µg/L1.1 m2022
Complexe de Saint MarcHaute-Vienne20 µg/L4.3 µg/L1.7 m2024
Complexe des Fades-BesservesPuy-de-Dôme20 µg/L5.3 µg/L2.5 m2023
Complexe du Bois JoliCôtes-d'Armor25 µg/L7.5 µg/L1.2 m2023
Etang Au Duc—55 µg/L——2023
Etang Blanc—20 µg/L——2023
Etang D Armainvilliers—39 µg/L——2021
Etang D Yrieu—20 µg/L——2023
Etang de la Vallee—45 µg/L——2019
Etang du Louroux—685 µg/L——2020
Etang du Vignoble—264 µg/L——2018
Etangs D Ardres—154 µg/L——2018
Etangs du Romelaere—525 µg/L——2018
La Grande Mare—110 µg/L——2023
Lac D Artouste—10 µg/L——2019
Lac de Maury—15 µg/L——2022
Lac du Val Joly—57 µg/L——2018
Mare A Goriaux—79 µg/L——2018
Retenue de Chamboux—25 µg/L——2020
Retenue de Codole—33 µg/L——2021
Retenue de Figari—14 µg/L——2021
Retenue de la Sorme—40 µg/L——2023
Retenue de Moulin Papon—37 µg/L——2023
Retenue de Saint Fraimbault—129 µg/L——2023
Retenue de Villaumur—45 µg/L——2022
Retenue du Cebron—80 µg/L——2023

Showing 102 of 361 named lakes. Open a county or place page for the rest.

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Frequently asked questions

Which lakes in France are best to swim in?
733 of 845 designated bathing waters in France are rated Excellent for 2025 under the EU Bathing Water Directive. That class measures E. coli and intestinal enterococci only — it is not a safety clearance.
Is it safe to swim in France lakes?
The official class is a bacteriological rating, not a safety clearance. It does not cover algal blooms, nutrients, water clarity, currents, or depth. Conditions change after heavy rain. Check local signage and the operator's current notices before entering the water.
How is lake water quality measured in France?
361 named lakes in France have official phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and Secchi from the French water agencies, via UNEP GEMS/Water, 2016–2026. These are the authority's own measurements, shown as reported.
Whose ratings do the France lake pages show?
The publishing authority's own. Pages for lakes in France show the values and classes that authority reports, with the season or year each was taken.

Lakes in other countries

Lakes in Europe

Directory of official lake water quality

Lake campgrounds in Europe

Rated bathing waters at campgrounds

Best lakes in France

Excellent-rated bathing waters

Campgrounds in France

Rated lake campgrounds

Clearest lakes in France

Named lakes ranked by Secchi

Lakes in Italy

Water quality for lakes in Italy

Lakes in Netherlands

Water quality for lakes in Netherlands

Lakes in Poland

Water quality for lakes in Poland

Lakes in Austria

Water quality for lakes in Austria

Lakes in Hungary

Water quality for lakes in Hungary

Lakes in Finland

Water quality for lakes in Finland

Lakes in Sweden

Water quality for lakes in Sweden

Lakes in Switzerland

Water quality for lakes in Switzerland

Where to stay near France

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Source: European Environment Agency (EEA), Bathing Water Directive. CC-BY 4.0.

UNEP GEMS/Water Global Freshwater Quality Archive v3 (OPEN / CC BY 4.0). Surface total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and Secchi from 2016 onward. Published as the authority reports it.

Monitoring: the French water agencies, via UNEP GEMS/Water.