Although it is around 6,900 years old, Lake Pavin is the youngest crater lake in mainland France. It was formed by the explosive meeting of rising magma and groundwater. The powerful eruption created a volcanic crater, known as a maar, which gradually filled with water to become the mysterious lake we see today.
Nestled among the trees, it has an intriguing appearance: an almost perfect circle measuring 800 metres in diameter, with a depth of 92 metres that gives its waters their dark colour. Yet in summer, Lake Pavin lights up, its edges turning a beautiful turquoise blue.
In both summer and winter, follow the scenic 2.7-kilometre trail that circles Lake Pavin through a beautiful beech forest. Along the way, you’ll enjoy numerous viewpoints overlooking the lake’s mysterious dark waters and, in summer, its stunning turquoise hues.