Lac de Remoray

Lac de Remoray is a small glacial lake in the Doubs department, straddling the communes of Labergement-Sainte-Marie and Remoray-Boujeons in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France. It sits in the upper Doubs valley, just south of the larger Lac de Saint-Point — a separate lake with a similar name that lies in the same valley, so the two are easy to confuse but should not be mixed up.

Where exactly is the lake?

Lac de Remoray lies in the Jura foothills, close to the Swiss border, surrounded by meadows, forest and wetland typical of this part of France. Since 1980, the lake together with its surrounding marshes and peat bog has formed the Lac de Remoray National Nature Reserve, covering roughly 330 hectares.

What makes this reserve stand out?

The reserve brings together several very different habitats within a small area: the glacial lake itself, extensive wetlands, an acidic peat bog, farmed meadows and patches of forest. This close juxtaposition of habitats gives the site an unusually high level of biodiversity for the region. The peat bogs were historically altered by peat cutting, forestry and farming, but restoration work carried out in recent decades has successfully brought back their natural wetland character.

What wildlife can you see around the lake?

Remoray has long been known for its exceptional birdlife: 242 species have been recorded in the reserve, with 110 of them nesting there. The most notable residents include common snipe and water rail, alongside the much rarer corncrake and spotted crake, both tied to wet meadows and reedbeds. Insects are equally rich — 66 butterfly species have been catalogued, including some found only on peat bogs, along with 48 dragonfly species, among them all four French species of Leucorrhinia whiteface dragonflies. The sphagnum-covered acidic bogs support bog rosemary and cranberry, and the reserve is home to four species of carnivorous plants: common butterwort, round-leaved sundew and two species of bladderwort.

How can you visit the reserve?

Visits start at the Maison de la Réserve in Labergement-Sainte-Marie, a visitor centre with six exhibition rooms across 500 square metres, dedicated to the region's natural habitats and to the lake itself. From there, a marked interpretive trail leads down to the lakeshore, open to visitors without entering the strictly protected core of the reserve. During the February half-term and the July-August school holidays, the centre organises guided outdoor outings to observe wildlife in its natural setting. The best time to walk the trail is toward evening, when the setting sun reflects across the water and birds return to roost at the nearby heronry.

Frequently asked questions

Can you swim in Lac de Remoray? The lake lies within a nature reserve where bird and plant protection takes priority, so open access to the shore and swimming are not part of the usual visitor experience.

Is entry to the reserve free? Walking the interpretive trail along the lake is open to the public, while the exhibitions at the Maison de la Réserve require an admission fee.

How is it different from Lac de Saint-Point? They are two neighbouring but distinct lakes in the same Doubs valley — Lac de Remoray is considerably smaller and lies entirely within a protected nature reserve.

When is the best time to visit? Spring and summer are best for spotting nesting birds and bog plants in flower, while early evening offers the clearest views across the lake.