Nature exploration at Lac de Vassivière

Day 1:

This first stage takes you to Auphelle (Haute-Vienne) and its “Poets’ Trail”. A walk (5 km round trip) invites you to discover the Bois de Crozat and its rare species. Along the way, sculptures invite you to decipher the poems engraved in the granite.

For lunch, head for “Vassivièra, l’Encas local”, the ideal place to relax over a meal cooked from local produce, and the starting point for your afternoon adventures (your choice):

• The adventure game “Le Barrage” welcomes you for a unique experience, a cross between an escape game and an immersive, sensory experience;
• The “Sentier des légendes” (“Legends Trail “) takes you on a treasure hunt along a trail of landscapes;
• Finally, if you’d like to find out more about the Vassivière dam and the Peyrat-le-Château hydroelectric plant, opt for one of the guided tours offered in partnership with EDF.

Day 2:

For this 2nd day, head forVassivière Island and its Centre international d’art et du paysage (CIAP), which hosts seasonal exhibitions, events, workshops and meetings every year. Orientation trails are also available on the island (information available on request from the Tourist Office reception desk).

For lunch, don’t miss a break at “Le Pré du Lac”, a restaurant on Vassivière Island serving local, organic produce.

In the afternoon, set off for a hike on the Chassagnas peninsula, the border between Creuse and Haute-Vienne in the heart of Lac de Vassivière, which forms a lock between the lake’s two main bays.

Day 3:

You pedal along the “Circuit des Légendes ” (23.5 km), which pays tribute to the Limousin’s greatest cycling champion, Raymond Poulidor, who trained here. If you don’t have your own bikes, head for the “Bistro du Lac ” to get fitted out (reservation possible online). Lunch is provided by the lake.

Day 4:

Today’s hike,starting from Nergout, gradually rises to the summit of Puy du Rocher, at 767 meters altitude. It offers breathtaking panoramic views over the entire northeastern part of Lac de Vassivière.

Then, in the afternoon, treat yourself to a canoe, kayak or paddle adventure. With your topoguide in hand or accompanied by a certified guide, let us tell you all about “Vassivière autrement” via one of the “Sentiers nautiques” offered by the French Canoeing Federation. Take advice from one of the “Canoë-Kayak-Eymoutiers” association’s water sports centers (in Auphelle or Broussas), and follow the signs to each marker on a safe route. And don’t forget to put your foot down when you’re out and about: the trail includes links to land-based routes that are not to be missed! Click here to find out more

Day 5:

This morning, head for the Centre Equestre de Vassivière in Masgrangeas, where you’ll enjoy a nature ride suitable for the whole family, an opportunity to (re)discover the lake on horseback.

After a waterside lunch at the “Bistro du Lac”, follow the 2.5 km Lande du Puy de la Croix interpretation trail, a poetic path lined with sculpted stones evoking the founding legend of the place (shepherdess, fairy woman or witch), offering one of the most beautiful views of the lake.

Finally, treat yourself to a well-earned swim at the Vauveix beach, which offers a wide range of aquatic activities during the summer season.

Day 6 :

Between Vauveix and Broussas, the ” D’arbre en arbre” tree-climbing parktakes you on a 2.5-hour discovery tour of the forest, with 7 fun trails.

In the late afternoon, climb aboard Franck’s boat (Adi Milles Tour) for a guided tour of the lake, accompanied by a selection of quality local products (charcuterie and cheese boards).