ブシエールの湖・トップ4

Beautiful wild spot that can be partly explored by mountain bike on the northern part of the lake.

Great place to take a break!

The Crescent Dam was built between 1929 and 1932. A gravity dam, it is 330 meters long and 37 meters high. Its width at the base is 24 meters and at the crest 3.5 meters. It was built on the initiative of SA Compagnie HydroElectrique de la Cure and was owned by the City of Paris until 1946. The dam was built to regulate the waters of the Yonne and Seine rivers and thus prevent flooding in Paris, while also producing electricity. More than 165 hectares of cultivated land, hamlets, mills, and paths were flooded to allow the creation of the reservoir (maximum depth of 40 meters). It occupies four municipalities and two departments, and is fed by the Cure and Chalaux rivers. The structure was partly financed by war reparations owed by Germany to France after the First World War. This is why much of the dam's mechanisms are German-made. The road across it is narrow and only allows passage for one vehicle. Fortunately, there is very little traffic.

Saint-Agnan lake is one of the last dams built in the Morvan regional natural park. Running over the top is always a sight to behold.

If you walk clockwise from Saint-Agnan around the lake of the same name, you will reach a turnoff on the east bank behind the villages of Les Coups and just before Les Michaux, on the lake side, which first leads on a narrow path and later on a new wooden footbridge across the lake. From here you have a beautiful view of the lake, the surrounding horse pastures and the interesting flora and fauna on the shores of Lac de Saint-Agnan.

The dam is located at the northern end of the lake, it is 1,600 meters long and 16 meters high. It is made of compacted Arena granite. The dam is equipped with a hydroelectric power station managed by the Abbey of Sainte Marie de la Pierre-qui-Vire. There are many colorful flowers on the banks of the dam and you can easily observe lizards here.

If you walk the circular route around the Lac de Saint-Agnan (8.7 km), you will reach a junction on the north-east side of the lake, at the level of the Bois du Loup riding stables and campsite. A well signposted water educational trail begins here. The path leads on wooden planks directly above the water and there are many picture boards along the path that vividly explain and explain the water cycle.

Good walking shoes required. Soggy route!