Lac de Nantua

The Lac de Nantua is a glacial lake in the southern foothills of the Jura, in the Ain, at about 475 metres, between Nantua, Port and Montréal-la-Cluse. It covers about 140 hectares and is some forty metres deep. It formed when a glacier widened and deepened a fault, then left moraines that dammed the water. It is fed by the Merloz, the Doye and several springs.

Occupied by fishermen since prehistoric times, the site was the subject of medieval disputes over fishing rights between the abbey monks and the villagers. It has been listed since 1936 and was labelled a Sensitive Natural Area in 2018. The banks on the Nantua side have a water-sports centre, a beach and a harbour. Sailing, swimming, fishing, pedal boats and the path around the lake are all on offer.

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