Lake Esparron: swimming, paddleboarding and electric boats

Lake Esparron is a reservoir on the Verdon formed by the Gréoux dam, filled in 1967, at 359 m. It covers 3.28 km² and is up to 55 m deep. As on the whole Verdon, petrol engines are banned: you sail in an electric boat, a pedalo, a canoe, on a paddleboard or under sail. The beach in the village of Esparron-de-Verdon is lifeguarded in summer, and there are rental outlets at the harbour. From Tourtour, Esparron-de-Verdon is 43 km away, about 55 minutes.

The lake in figures

It is the furthest downstream of the Verdon’s five dams. When it was filled, the water covered the old bridge on the Saint-Julien road, the only man-made structure to be submerged.

Swimming

• The beach in the village of Esparron-de-Verdon is the easiest to reach. Swimming there is lifeguarded in summer, and it is also the busiest, especially in August.
• Saint-Julien beach, on the Saint-Julien-le-Montagnier side, is a sand and pebble beach.
• The wilder coves can be reached on foot along the Garde-Canal path, or by boat.

Outside the supervised areas, take care: sloping, unstable banks, deep water, and a level that varies with how the dam is managed.

On the water

Across the Verdon, petrol engines are banned. On Lake Esparron, you can go out in:

• a licence-free electric boat;
• a pedalo;
• a canoe or kayak;
• a paddleboard;
• a sailing boat, with the Esparron sailing club.

Rental outlets are based at the village harbour. Prices and hours change every season: ask on site or by phone before you come.

Towards the lower gorge

Upstream of the lake begins the lower Verdon gorge, which runs up towards Quinson between limestone cliffs. You can explore it by canoe or electric boat. See Lake Quinson and the lower gorge.

Combining it with the rest of the Verdon

Esparron is in the south-west of the Verdon, far from the main gorge. A day from Tourtour can combine Esparron with neighbouring Quinson. For the big lake and the entrance to the main gorge, see Lake Sainte-Croix.