Lacs de la Godivelle (lac d'En-Haut et lac d'En-Bas)

La Godivelle

La Godivelle, a village of the Cézallier at 1,205 m, has two neighbouring lakes of different origins. The Lac d'En-Haut, at 1,239 m, is a volcanic crater lake, about 113,000 years old according to La Montagne; fed only by rain and snow, it is poor in nutrients, without colonising vegetation, and serves as the village's water reservoir. The Lac d'En-Bas, at about 1,200 m, is of glacial origin and is said to date from about 10,000 years ago; a peat bog is gradually colonising it, which makes it impossible to walk all the way round. It belongs to the Réserve naturelle nationale des Sagnes de La Godivelle, which protects four peat bogs. It is privately owned, but fishing is allowed at marked points with a permit; swimming is forbidden. On the church square, a large fountain with four taps served to water several herds at once. The Sancy tourist office mentions a ‘sentier des légendes’ (Sancy Tour no. 12) devoted to the stories of the village, the lakes and the peat bogs, but without giving the content: no specific legend could therefore be reported here.

Getting there: A path skirts the Lac d'En-Bas (signs on fauna and flora); one cannot walk all the way round (peat bogs); swimming forbidden (Sancy, La Montagne). Mountain hike, check the weather. Coordinates: Nominatim (Lac d'En-Haut; En-Bas: 45.3851; 2.9256).

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound