Chambon-sur-Lac, one of Auvergne’s prettiest lake towns, lies about an hour southwest of Clermont-Ferrand, in a mountain district that writers two hundred years ago likened to the Swiss Alps. At its heart is the volcanic and dark-surfaced Lake Chambon, an oasis whose refreshing waters attract droves of beachgoers every year. Yet there is much more to the town than its lacustrine enticements; as with many of Auvergne’s highland villages, each wayside path, inn, or ruin has something worth exploring. Here are a few things to do on your next visit.
Take a Hot Air Balloon Tour
One of the best ways to explore Auvergne’s unique patchwork of plateaux, ravines, castles, and pastures is by taking a hot air balloon tour. Usefully, a major balloon operator in the region — Auvergne Montgolfières — is based in Chambon-sur-Lac. The agency’s Sancy tour is a scenic three-hour long flight around key landmarks, such as the puy de Sancy (Auvergne’s tallest mountain) and the Château de Murol, a ruined fortress from the twelfth century. Tours for groups, families, and couples are generally offered throughout the year, weather permitting.
Hike to the Spring of Saint-Anne
Reputed to possess various therapeutic qualities, the Spring of Saint-Anne (Source de Sainte-Anne) is located about eight kilometres from Chambon-sur-Lac in the breathtaking Valley of Chaudefour. Unlike some of Auvergne’s other natural springs, its bubbling and mineral-rich waters are completely potable, making the spot the perfect place to recharge after a day-long walk in the mountains.
Hiking there from Chambon-sur-Lac usually takes about two hours. The path starts from the D637 and weaves southward through a truly sublime glacial landscape. As the road winds higher and higher into mountains, creviced walls and spires of granite and trachyte rise imperiously into view, emerging from a sea of trees. On misty days, as the scattered sunlight trickles down into the valley, this windswept domain of half-barren crags seems like a lost world. Perhaps no setting could be for fitting for the fountain of Saint-Anne, whose restorative waters have quenched the thirst of wayfarers for generations.
Fish for Crayfish in Lake Chambon
Lake Chambon teems with two types of American crayfish: Orconectes limosus and Pacifastacus leniusculus. Both are regarded as invasive species in Europe, which makes the lake an excellent hunting ground for anyone looking for sustainable and locally sourced lobster substitutes. Fishing for crayfish at Chambon is permitted all year round, but all prospective anglers must buy a fishing licence from the Fédération Nationale de la Pêche en France (cartedepeche.fr), France’s nationwide fishing regulator.
See Mermaids at a Thousand-Year-Old Chapel
Chambon-sur-Lac is one of the few places in Auvergne where one can encounter ancient sculptures of mermaids on a religious building. These fascinating stone carvings adorn the town’s Romanesque chapelle funéraire, a rotonda-shaped chapel that dates back to the eleventh century. Tradition has it that this holy space, which is situated inside the town’s cemetery, once served as the burial place for local lords and their families. The chapel’s pediment also features a mosaic of an eight-pointed star, an ancient symbol with pre-Christian origins.
Watch the Mont-Dore Hill Climb (course de côte du Mont Dore)
The Mont-Dore Hill Climb is an international sportscar race that has taken place in Chambon-sur-Lac every year since 1961. The five-kilometre, somewhat treacherous course (it’s the sort of route that would appear in a James Bond film) starts in the rural hamlet of Monneaux and zigzags around the Sancy massif before finishing above the clouds, on the summit of the col de la Croix Saint Robert. The 2024 competition kicks off on 9 August. Tickets are available online at coursedecote-montdore.com.
For more tips on must-see attractions in Auvergne, click “Trip Ideas” below.
