Savines-Le-Lac: Water Sports and Culture by the Lake

Savines-le-Lac combines water sports on Lac de Serre-Ponçon with the history of a village that was completely rebuilt after the dam was constructed. When planning your trip, you can choose from activities on the water, beaches, nature and cultural heritage.

Water Sports and Beaches

At the Savines-le-Lac marina, you can go sailing, rent a boat with or without a licence, try stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, pedal boating, towed inflatable rides and electric surfing. As specific activities and operators may change, check what is currently on offer in advance.

Club Nautique Alpin operates a base in Savines-le-Lac and offers skipper-led outings. Choose between a group sailing boat for ten people and a sport sailing boat for four. Bookings and operating dates are seasonal.

The Base nautique La Voilerie/Ecole de voile offers seasonal sailing and windsurfing lessons for all levels, from age six. It also rents out catamarans and windsurfing equipment. The waterside activities therefore come in different forms: rentals, lessons or a skipper-led outing.

Savin’Plage is considered the only sandy beach on Lac de Serre-Ponçon; its surface is made up of pink pebbles. The beach is a five-minute walk from the town centre. If you plan to visit, check the latest conditions beforehand.

Plage des Combettes is also a five-minute walk from the town centre. Supervised swimming is available there in July and August; check the specific lifeguard dates in advance. The beach has a leisure pontoon with a slide and diving board. As these facilities may be maintained seasonally, confirm their current condition before your visit.

The Lake, Boat Trips and Nature

Lac de Serre-Ponçon is France’s largest artificial lake and can also be accessed from Savines-le-Lac. Serre Ponçon Tour’s excursion boats depart from Plage de la capitainerie on Rue du Stade in Savines-le-Lac. Booking and departure arrangements may change, so check the details before your trip.

The Capitainerie du lac de Serre-Ponçon in Savines-le-Lac has a reception area with a permanent exhibition and digital resources for discovering the lake. This offers a different way to explore the lake, complementing the activities on the water.

You can explore the Forêt de Morgon on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. There is also a botanical nature trail. Trail conditions may vary, so take the latest information into account when planning an outing.

Anglers can also find local services: in the Savines canton, providers and shops that have signed up to a quality charter for better support for anglers offer specialist services. As participation may change, check whether a specific provider is currently part of the charter.

In July and August, Savines-le-Lac hosts the «Mercredis de feu», with fireworks over the lake. Check the specific event dates when planning your trip.

The Rebuilt Village and Its Heritage

After the Serre-Ponçon dam was built, Savines-le-Lac was completely rebuilt on the lake’s left bank. The village’s history is explored at CIAP XXe: the first French CIAP dedicated to this heritage theme, it features a permanent exhibition on «joyful modernity in the mountains».

CIAP XXe includes an outdoor visitor trail between the village and the Le XXe cultural centre. It connects two named stops without requiring a set amount of time. The Saint-Florent Church is also of interest for its architecture, which reflects the rebuilt village: it was rebuilt in 1961 alongside the village, to plans by architect Achille de Panaskhet.

Today, Saint-Florent Church is an important stop for pilgrims travelling to Rome and Compostela. Another historical milestone was the decision of 23 June 2011, when the Regional Commission for Heritage and Sites voted to award the village the «Patrimoine du XXème siècle» label.

The Pont de Savines crosses the reservoir and is part of the Serre-Ponçon hydroelectric complex, which comprises three structures. The complex is located partly in the communes of Rousset and Savines-le-Lac and was awarded a label by the relevant regional commission on 28 November 2000.

As another cultural activity, Arteralya offers pottery workshops for children and adults by reservation. Workshops are scheduled seasonally; check the dates and book in advance.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Apollinaire, Saint-Crépin, Barret-sur-Méouge, Saint-Jacques-En-Valgodemard, Sainte-Catherine, Aiguilles, Furmeyer, Manteyer.

For the broader travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.