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Barrage de Lavaud

Poitou-Charentes  >  France

Big artificial lake with an area of 128.5 hectares. You can explore the shores around the lake or visit the observatory on the western shore.

Added* by Thierry Martin
Most recent update 24 October 2023

Description

The Lake at the Barrage de Lavaud was created by the construction of a dam. This reservoir and the neighboring Lake Mas Chaban have a wooded and unspoiled environment. The reservoirs attract many species of birds such as Common Kingfisher, Common Greenshank, Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, European Honey-buzzard, Common Crane (mainly in October and November), Cirl Bunting and many species of ducks and other water birds. See the birdlist below.

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Français: Le lac de Barrage de Lavaud se situe à cheval entre les départements de la Charente et de la partie Haute-Vienne, en région Aquitaine. C’est un lac artificiel d’une superficie de 128,5 hectares, créé par la construction d’un barrage, mis en eau en 1989, sur la partie amont de la rivière Charente, juste à son arrivée en Charente depuis la Haute-Vienne. Il est voisin à 3,5 kilomètres à l’est du lac du Mas Chaban, avec qui il forme les lacs de Haute-Charente. Bénéficiant d’un environnement boisé et préservé, ces deux retenues d’eau attirent de nombreuses espèces d’oiseaux telles que le héron, le chevalier aboyeur, le grèbe huppé ou encore la foulque macroule. Ces oiseaux sauvages peuvent être admirés depuis l’observatoire ornithologique de Foucherie.

Details

Access

You can explore the lake by driving or walking around it (14 km, the route shown on the map below is only accessible by foot. By bike or car you have to make a wider loop because some small paths along the shores are not accessible by car and bike and make stops along the shores. The birds can also be admired from the Foucherie bird hide. To find the hide go from the left bank road of Lake Lavaud, to the village of Foucherie and follow the panels leading to the wooden observatory. Especially in winter this is a good place for birding.

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Français: Un observatoire en bois idéal pour observer les oiseaux sauvages, notamment en hiver, période durant laquelle l'office du tourisme de Haute-Charente organise des animations. Pour accéder à l'observatoire, suivre les panneaux à partir de la route rive gauche du lac de Lavaud au village de Foucherie.

Terrain and Habitat

Forest , Lake

Conditions

Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Winter , Spring , Autumn

Route

Paved road , Wide path , Narrow trail

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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Comments & Tips

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