Lac de Sainte-Croix at Bauduen
Bauduen's village beach is a long pebble shore on the south side of the Lac de Sainte-Croix, a reservoir of about 2,200 hectares filled between 1973 and 1975. The lake is a drinking-water reserve for Provence and boats with thermal engines are banned on it.
WhatLake, BauduenVerdon and the Provence lakes
WhenNot known yet. Know it? Tell us
Getting there Car
CostPublic shoreFree
AccessNo dogs on the beach. No jumping, diving or freediving; no swimming in the buoyed dam zones; no thermal-engine boats
Getting in
- Access
- A large pebble beach below the village, lifeguarded from 1 July to 31 August, 11:00 to 18:00. The Parc du Verdon notes that the reservoir's level varies, so unmarked rocks and shallows can appear, that eroded banks and cliffs can collapse, and that banks are slippery with muddy bottoms. Water-bombing aircraft may scoop water anywhere on the lake; the park asks swimmers to get to the nearest bank when one passes overhead. Dogs are not allowed on the beach. Jumping from cliffs and bridges is banned, and so are scuba diving and freediving (the water is turbid). Swimming and boating are banned in the buoyed exclusion zones around the dam and the water intake. Thermal-engine boats are banned on the lake. No fires or stoves; no wild camping on the shore.
- Parking
- Free car park near the beach, with electric vehicle charging points (tourist office).
- Crowds
- high. August weekends are packed
- Also here
- Paddleboard
Cost and facilities
- Entry
- Free, public shore
- Official site
- lacs-gorges-verdon.fr
- Facilities
- ToiletsLifeguard in seasonParking
About Lac de Sainte-Croix at Bauduen
Bauduen sits against a small cliff on the lake shore, an old village of narrow streets and cobbled stairways, with a small port where sailing boats are moored. The tourist office notes there is no heavy beach infrastructure, and a picnic area and public toilets by the beach. Paddleboards, windsurf boards and pedalos are used from the beach.
More places near Bauduen
- Plage de Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon
- Plage Margaridon, Les Salles-sur-Verdon
- Pont du Galetas
- Lac d'Esparron at Esparron-de-Verdon
Warm water nearby
Swimming in Bauduen · Verdon and the Provence lakes · Swimming in France