Perhaps you've heard of the Sarrans Dam being emptied?

EDF is obliged to check its dams over 20 metres high every 10 years. This year, the technical examination of the Sarrans dam in the northern Aveyron, at the gates of the Cantal, will be carried out by means of a total draining. The purpose of this operation is to ensure the safety of the structure over time. It is a kind of complete check-up of the dam, which is more than 100 meters high

The French electricity giant thus emptied Lake Sarrans, the eighth largest in France. In other words: a volume of water of 300 million cubic metres over a length of 35 kilometres. Conclusion, the lake is empty. The Truyère valley is back to its original landscape, as it was before the construction of the famous dam.

More than 180 events to experience this summer

This ephemeral landscape that the lake is currently experiencing lasts for the entire period of the dry season: all summer long! The lake will start to fill up again next October. The phenomenon is unbelievable. This attracts a considerable number of tourists. They all go around the lake by car and stop at the main places to discover: the peninsula of Laussac (12), the lookout of the Sarrans dam (commune of Ste-Geneviève-sur-Argence, 12) and the site of the Tréboul bridges (15). It's very curious

Ruins of villages (Tréboul and its bridge) and old roads usually submerged under water resurface. Vegetation grows back like green meadows and old "petrified" trees remain immobile. It's just spectacular.

For the occasion, EDF and the tourism industry are offering a programme of more than 180 events to be enjoyed by all during the summer. Visits, hikes, ponting, exhibitions, tourist rally, zip line, captive balloon flights, quad biking, conferences on hydroelectricity, nocturnal shows, etc... Not to be missed either: a big fireworks display on August 15th with : "L'embrasement des Pont de Tréboul" near Sainte-Marie, Pierrefort and Chaudes-Aigues.

More info on the official site of the Sarrans oil change: www.sarrans-vidange2014.com

Information in the tourist offices of

Chaudes-Aigues on 04 71 23 52 75

Pierrefort at 04 71 23 38 04