Var lakes and rivers - discoveries and walks

Walks on the shores of the lakes

These lakes are strictly off-limits to bathing, but you can still enjoy hiking or fishing.

From the Val to Carcès

To the north-east of Brignoles, in Carcès, lies the Lac de Sainte-Suzanne, known as the Lac de Carcès after the name of the village. This 100-hectare lake offers a landscape that changes with the seasons.

Whether you're cycling, horse-riding or walking, the trails offer a wide range of routes to suit all abilities. You can stop off in the village, for example, or head north of the lake to admire the Caramy waterfalls.

Further west is the village of Vins sur Caramy and its lake. The lake is popular with locals and families alike, not least for the colour of its water.

Revest-les-Eaux: a lake in the Monts Toulonnais

Located less than 20 minutes from Toulon city centre, this artificial lake was created in the early 20th century. It is also known as the Revest dam or Dardennes lake. You can enjoy the tranquillity of the place and the greenery by walking around or fishing in the lake.

©Foret plan d’eau colline nature

Our suggestions

Le Revest-les-Eaux

Barrage du Revest (ou lac du Revest)

Carcès

Towns, villages and areas

Vins-sur-Caramy

Lac de Vins

Lakes open to bathing

In the heart of the Esterel: Lake Saint Cassien

Close to the Estérel massif, this lake is distinguished by its Y shape and wooded landscape. It is crossed by the large Pré Claou bridge, on the way to the communes of Montauroux and Tanneron.

The Fondurane biological reserve lies to the east of the lake. It is home to a rich and varied flora and fauna. Many birds can be seen all year round along its banks. A walk in this biotope is always a unique experience!

Roquebrune-sur-Argens: the red rocks of Lac Perrin

Recognisable by its imposing rock with hints of red reflected in its waters, surrounded by reeds, Lac Perrin offers natural shelter for birds. European bee-eaters and grey herons can be spotted here.

The lake is ideal for swimming, and a watersports centre offers a range of water sports.

The Var has other smaller lakes, but they are just as green and ideal for hiking.

Lac des Escarcets in the heart of the Plaine des Maures, a national nature reserve
Lac de Besse, next to the village of Besse-sur-Issole
Or the Lac de l'Avellan near Fréjus

©Roquebrune-sur-Argens sport glisse ski nautique bateau lac

Our suggestions

Towns, villages and areas

Besse-sur-Issole

Le lac de besse

Focus on Lac Sainte-Croix

It is the largest lake in the Var department, but also a dam used to irrigate crops, supply drinking water and help generate electricity in the region.

The Sainte-Croix lake is a real jewel, famous for its clear blue water. It offers a complete change of scenery and a breathtaking view of the Verdon gorges.

From a historical point of view, it's also important to understand the history of this place, which leaves no one indifferent. Built in the 1970s, before the dam there was a valley where people used to live, or used these roads to get to other towns nearby. To find out more, you can take a guided tour of the past of Salles-sur-Verdon, a village that had to be swallowed up and moved to make way for the waters of the lake .

Less than an hour's drive away is Lac de Quinson, bordered by the Verdon. Smaller and wilder, it is not without its spectacular views of the limestone cliffs.

Three water sports centres are located nearby: Bauduen, les Salles sur Verdon and Baudinard sur Verdon. Around the lake, there are numerous walks for all the family to discover the landscape, wildlife, flora and nearby villages.

This exceptional site attracts thousands of visitors during the summer season. For a less crowded holiday, it's best to visit in spring or autumn.

Lac de Sainte Croix et ses passionnés de pédalos © Olivier Simon

©Pédalos sur le lac de Sainte Croix Olivier Simon

Our suggestions

Baudinard-sur-Verdon

Towns, villages and areas

Bauduen

Towns, villages and areas

Montmeyan

Lac de Quinson - Montmeyan Plage

Swimming in the rivers

The Argens, a 116km-long river, rises at Seillons-Source-d'Argens and flows through a large part of the Var to the sea at Fréjus. The river flows through around twenty villages in the Var, and there are a number of bathing facilities.

The landscapes are varied and changing all along the way: hills, cliffs, reed beds... Unspoilt nature and exceptional flora and fauna (turtles, birds, etc.)

In the middle of the Verdon Regional Nature Park winds the Verdon, a small river that has created Europe's most beautiful canyon! Spectacular scenery surrounds this emerald green river. The Verdon flows through a number of small villages and communes, offering plenty of places to relax and swim .

You can also admire the Nartuby: a charming river with several waterfalls flowing through Draguignan, Trans en Provence and La Motte before emptying into the Argens. In 2021 Trans-en-Provence has installed a Himalayan footbridge over the Nartuby gorges! This unusual suspension bridge offers an astonishing experience above the water.

Foranother walk, we recommend the Aille waterfalls in the commune of Vidauban, in the Plaine des Maures nature reserve. There are many other rivers and streams in the Var department to discover, including the Issole, the Gapeau, the Bresque, the Caramy and the Siagne..

Along the Artuby, you'll enjoy some of the Var 's most unexpected pre-alpine landscapes. There are many pretty villages to discover, right up to where the river meets the Verdon. This is where you'll find the Artuby bridge, the highest in Europe, from which thrill-seekers can go bungee jumping.