One Of France's Most Breathtaking Swimming Locations Is A Dreamy Azure Lake Surrounded By Limestone

Amid the lavender-scented hills of Provence, against a backdrop of sienna and blue-green colors straight out of a postcard, there lies a shimmering oasis of crystalline water and white pebble beaches. While it has all the markings of a natural wonder, Lake Sainte-Croix is actually man-made. This breathtaking swimming location in France is a hydroelectric reservoir inaugurated in 1973 after 10 years of planning and construction. Operated by French utility Électricité de France (EDF), it is the fourth largest reservoir in France, providing electricity, irrigation for farmland, and a constant supply of drinking water to the region. With an area of over 5,400 acres, it is the same size as Lake Annecy, which happens to be an underrated French destination for a lakeside vacation. 

Today, the stunning Lake Sainte-Croix in Provence is an exceptional destination if you enjoy swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, or boating –– but the lake is also a splendid spot to just kick back and let the slower rhythm of Provence wash away your mental charge. If you are traveling with a family and you need to cater to varying ages and interests, or if the members of your group have very different levels of adrenaline tolerance, few destinations offer such a variety of options. The surrounding area is dotted with charming hillside villages, the nearest being Moustiers-Sainte-Marie with its colorful weekly market, as well as two other villages bordering the lake itself: Les Salles sur Verdon and the charming Bauduen.

Lake Sainte-Croix is easily accessible from the main road network in the south of France, whether you are coming from Marseille, the perfect home base to explore the French Riviera, or from Aix-en-Provence, Grenoble, Avignon, or Nice. Most of the drives to Lake Sainte-Croix are quite scenic. If you're coming from Nice or Cannes, you could even take a drive through Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Gorge), one of Europe's largest canyons that's a turquoise water paradise perfect for a soothing swim and a favorite among kayakers.

For a convenient place to take your first dip at Lake Sainte-Croix, the beach at Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon (a local village) is an easy point to start your adventure. With a supervised designated swimming area, here you can also rent electric boats, pedal boats, canoes, and even take sailing lessons through the sailing association (no motorboats are allowed as part of the initiatives to respect the environment). You can then continue on to some of the most spectacular swimming in Provence. According to Daniel Start, author of "Wild Swimming France," you can reach one particularly beautiful swimming location by heading to the village of Bauduen on the southeastern shore where you can take a dip from the beach or cannonball from the boulders, and then hug the coast to the north for a succession of wild little beaches and rock jumps.

Lake Sainte-Croix sits at the heart of Verdon Regional Natural Park, a magical stage for outdoor enthusiasts. The area offers hiking trails of different levels of difficulty and duration, starting from an easy 4.7-mile loop called the Véris Trail, which starts and ends in Bauduen, that you can cover in under three hours. For an epic cycling adventure, the Tour du Verdon awaits with 160 miles of marked trails, where you can pedal along charming countryside lanes and dizzying cliffside stretches. The cycling trail is designed to be completed in around seven days.

If all that exertion made you hungry, you are in the right place. There are several options for a lovely meal, from Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon where you will find a selection of restaurants near the lakeshore, or Bauduen to dine with your feet practically in the water, to the heights of Aiguines where you can get a table with a spellbinding view. As with most popular vacation spots in the south of France, it is highly recommended to book restaurants ahead of time during the summer season to avoid disappointment, although there is always the spontaneous and budget-friendly option: picking up some cheese, a crunchy baguette, and a local rosé for a relaxing waterside picnic.