Saint-Étienne-Cantalès – Lake, Dam and Nature

Saint-Étienne-Cantalès brings together a range of themes for trip planning: Lac de Saint-Étienne-Cantalès, the dam and hydroelectric power station, the Marais du Cassan et de Prentegarde, as well as the church, art and horse-riding options. If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay here, you could start by thinking about whether you’re particularly interested in architecture, nature trails, a pilgrimage route or outdoor activities.

Lake, Dam and Hydropower

Lac de Saint-Étienne-Cantalès is 13 kilometres long and covers 563 hectares. The length and area provide two different ways of measuring the lake: one figure describes its extent, the other the size of its surface. The Saint-Étienne-Cantalès dam is a distinct architectural highlight. It is 69 metres high and is built as a gravity arch dam.

Guided tours of the hydroelectric power station cover the dam’s construction, surroundings and operation. The tour takes you through the inspection gallery, the machine room and the turbine area. It therefore covers both the technical interior spaces and the wider context of the structure. Be sure to check registration requirements and dates again before your trip.

Marshland and Different Trails

The Marais du Cassan et de Prentegarde is designated as a ZNIEFF, an Espace Naturel Sensible and a Natura 2000 site. The administrative boundaries of designated areas may be updated. This makes the marsh a nature highlight in its own right, alongside the lake and dam.

The PR Marais du Cassan et de Prentegarde comprises two trails of different lengths: a two-kilometre educational trail through the marshland and a 13.4-kilometre circular trail around the Marais du Cassan. When choosing, you can take both the distance and the type of trail into account: the shorter route is an educational trail, while the longer one is a circuit around the marsh. The Via Arverna is another option for pilgrims. It passes the Saint-Étienne-Cantalès dam and then continues into the Cère gorges.

Church, Art and Horse-Riding Options

The Church of Saint Etienne dates from the 17th century. Its entrance features a comb-shaped bell wall with two bells. This is a specific architectural feature for anyone wishing to include the history of the village’s buildings in their trip planning, alongside the landscape and engineering.

The public artwork ASTER is located at the entrance to the dam on the Saint-Étienne-Cantalès side, with a platform in front of it. Video projections at ASTER begin at dusk. Each day of the week has a different animation cycle, and the start time changes with the seasons. If you’re planning to see the projections, take the evening start time and the day of the week into account.

Ferme Equestre de Cantalès offers horseback rides, riding lessons, courses, training sessions and demonstrations, as well as pony hire. This provides a range of ways to include horse-riding in your trip plans without limiting it to just one type of activity. Booking and program details may change, so check them before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Bassignac, Clavières, Saint-Julien-de-Toursac, Talizat, Saint-Flour, Tournemire, Arches, Cros-De-Ronesque

For the broader travel overview: Cantal.