Description

Artignosc Lake is one of the smaller lakes between the large Lac de Sainte Croix and Lac d'Esparron. It has existed since the dam near Quinson was put into operation in 1975. It is the first bathing lake downstream of the far bigger Lac de Sainte Croix. Bathing is prohibited at the Lac de Montpezat, which is just below it, due to cold springs.

Although the small lake is little known, it is still visited by holidaymakers and locals a lot in summer. The nearby campsite alone attracts many visitors. However, the quantities are limited to July and the first half of August. This is also the period with the warmest bathing water. As described above, there are springs that emanate from below the surface of the water. You can find them all along the stretch between Lac de Sainte Croix and Lac d'Esparron. The damming of large sections of the Verdon diverted underground watercourses in the limestone. The water stays underground longer and cools down faster.

But starting at Lac d'Artignosc the water is well mixed again and usually you have good bathing temperatures here.

Access by public transport

There is no public bus line to get to the lake and even from the village of Artignosc only schoolchildren have a bus to Aups.

Access by car

Roughly speaking, we are between Riez to the north and Barjols to the south, more specifically at a bridge over the Verdon between St.-Laurent-du-Verdon and Artignosc-sur-Verdon. All roads in this area are winding and narrow.

Parking size

South of the bridge there is an east turnoff. An arrow points to Camping Éouvière Verte. The road descends to the lake and once you pass the entrance to a boat ramp you can look for a place to park. Don't drive too far, as there are fewer and fewer parking spaces.

Two completely different bathing spots

If you go straight down to the lake from the parking lot, you will come to a gravel beach. The width depends on the backwater of the dam in Quinson. The beach is very flat and you have to go a long way in the water to get deeper. Of course, this is the easiest access to the lake, as soon as the weather is right, you are certainly no longer alone here.

Further on, you come to a rocky section where very few people pass. There is no longer a beach here, but the limestone banks are conveniently stepped for getting into the water or even for jumping.

Access by short walk

Just keep going along the beach and keep to the right. Halfway you have to cross the confluence of a small stream. If the water in the lake is very high, crossing the stream can be problematic. In this case it is better to walk along the road to the entrance to the campsite and then down the path opposite. The two routes are marked on the map on this page.