During your seaside holiday on the Mediterranean coast, discover the Hérault hinterland and its breathtaking natural landscapes. The Salagou lake, with its emblematic red earth, is a must-see on this tour.
The Hérault region is famous for its large, beautiful seaside resorts, ideal for relaxing vacations under the Mediterranean sun: Cap d’Agde, Grau d’Agde, La Tamarissière, Marseillan Plage, Vias, Portiragnes, Sérignan, Valras-Plage, La Grande-Motte, Palavas-les-Flots…
In addition to its beaches and favorable climate, the Hérault region also boasts breathtaking natural landscapes that will delight hiking enthusiasts, holidaymakers looking to get away from it all, and families wanting to combine relaxation and sightseeing during their vacation…
Lac du Salagou, with its inimitable red earth, isone of the jewels of the Languedoc hinterland. It offers a magnificent contrast between the blue of the lake, the sky and the arid landscape surrounding it.
Easily accessible from the A75 motorway, the Lac du Salagou is an absolute must-see during your stay in Occitanie.
Discover the Lac du Salagou
Lac du Salagou extends over 750 hectares, 7 kilometers in length and 28 kilometers in perimeter. This makes it the largest lake in the Hérault department. This 60-year-old artificial lake reaches a depth of 45 metres in some places. An extraordinary reservoir of 125 million m3 of clear water.
Lac du Salagou is impressive not only for its size. Its uniqueness also lies in its red earth, creating a landscape worthy of Mars. The contrast between the blue of the lake water, the red of the earth and the green and yellow of the vegetation makes it a veritable work of art. It’s impossible to tire of admiring this landscape.
Moreover, the Lac du Salagou is classified as a ” Paysages Remarquables “, ” Natura 2000 ” and even a candidate for ” Unesco World Heritage ” status.
Lac du Salagou: origin and legend
Lac du Salagou may look as if it has survived the centuries, but it has not. Lac du Salagou is in fact an artificial lake dating from the late 1960s.
Originally, the Salagou was a simple little river. At the end of the 1960s, it was decided to build a dam to impede its flow, thereby facilitating crop irrigation and regulating the regular and violent flooding of the Hérault river.
On the shores of Lac du Salagou, you’ll also discover the stone village of Celles. Here again, appearances are deceptive… Indeed, this picturesque village gives the impression of having been swallowed up by the lake in the distant past. In fact, this is sometimes the impression conveyed by some people’s comments. And yet, although the original Lac du Salagou project foresaw the flooding of the village of Celles, leading to its evacuation, the village was never actually swallowed up. These stories about the village contribute to its beauty and legend.
The colors of Lac du Salagou
Whatever the season, the Lac du Salagou offers walkers a breathtaking palette of colors, testifying to the rich geological history of this singular territory.
Singular, because on the Salagou site, it’s possible to observe the remains of four geological eras. It’s an exceptional location, and one that makes the site so rich.
The emblematic red earth, also known as “ruffes”, is actually the result of the slow deposition of sandstone and clay dating back over 270 million years. The presence of iron oxide in this area gives the ruffes their characteristic red color.
The prominent black rocks that form the relief of the Salagou site bear witness to the Salagou’s volcanic past, dating back 1.5 million years. At that time, several volcanic eruptions covered the black basalt ruffes. The same rock you’ll find at Cap d’Agde, on the Conque beach, and in Agde, where most of the ancient monuments are built in baslate. It’s no coincidence that Salagou and Cap d’Agde are part of the same volcanic chain – extinct, of course.
The yellow rocks observed on site are due to the deposition of marine limestone dating from the secondary era.
Even if the landscape around Salagou is rather arid, the green of the vegetation enhances the picture in small touches. In spring, the yellow of the many flowering brooms further embellishes the Lac du Salagou.
This idyllic, unspoilt landscape, classified Natura 2000, is a wonderful natural setting for a huge number of plant and animal species, including 21 protected bird species: Great Horned Owl, Bonelli’s Eagle, Ortolan Bunting, Pitchou Warbler…
A day at Lac du Salagou
Whatever your tastes and preferences, you’ll find everything you need to spend a superb day at Lac du Salagou with your family, friends or loved ones, while enjoying this breathtaking landscape and exceptional environment.
For the more sporty, a wide range ofactivities are available on the lake (paddle, pedalo, kayak, kite, sailing…) and around the lake (hiking, bike rides, mountain biking, horseback riding, archery, paragliding, orienteering, treasure hunts, quad biking, buggy, climbing, Via Ferrata…).
For information on all these activities, visit the Base Nautique des Vailhés (to the north of the lake) or the Base de plein air Rives de Clermont l’Hérault – accessible for disabled people (to the south-east of the lake).
For those who prefer to relax, it’s of course possible to swim in the Lac du Salagou and sit on the shore to sunbathe or relax in the shade of the vegetation.
For gourmets, here are a few good addresses on Lac du Salagou where you can spend a pleasant moment:
- La bodeguita del lago
- La guinguette du relais nautique
- Le mas de riri
If you’re on vacation with your dog, you can take your 4-legged friend with you. A leash is a must, as you’re likely to run into lots of friends, especially at the height of the season. Don’t forget your poo bags either, to leave this magnificent natural area clean and beautiful for future visitors.
Points of interest near Salagou
After a day of relaxation and/or activities at Lac du Salagou, take to the heights at Mont Liausson. This safe, signposted ascent takes 7 km round trip. From up there, you’ll have an unobstructed view of the lake, allowing you to admire its full extent, color and diversity from a different angle. At the end of the day, the light sublimates the landscape. Don’t forget your camera!
Just twenty kilometers from the Lac du Salagou, the Cirque de Mourèze is another major attraction. While Lac du Salagou is reminiscent of the colors of Mars, Mourèze will transport you to the moon, with its dolomitic rocks over 160 million years old.
Other nearby villages are well worth a visit for the more curious: villeneuvette, salasc, mérifons, octon, brenas…
Camping La Clape Village in Cap d’Agde
Camping La Clape Village is ideally located in the heart of one of France’s largest and most famous seaside resorts: Cap d’Agde.
With direct access to Le Môle beach and an aquatic area with two swimming pools and three slides, Camping La Clape Village is ideal for an enjoyable family vacation. The whole family is pampered at Camping La Clape Village, as even your four-legged friends are welcome: we are a dogfriendly campsite.
At Camping La Clape Village, you’ll enjoy a pleasant stay on the Mediterranean coast, with easy access to the Hérault hinterland.
Pitches with private sanitary facilities, cottages with hammocks, mobile homes with private pool, sea view bungalows… There’s something for every taste and budget.
