Grand lac de Laffrey

Grand Lac de Laffrey is the largest lake in a small cluster of natural lakes scattered across the Plateau de la Matheysine, a high plateau in the Dauphiné Alps of the Isère department in southeastern France. It sits at 911 metres above sea level, mostly within the commune of Laffrey, with its southern shore reaching into neighbouring Cholonge. The lake lies directly alongside the road that climbs from Grenoble onto the plateau, making it one of the first landmarks travellers notice as the road opens up above the Grenoble valley.

How big is the lake, and how did it form?

Grand Lac de Laffrey is a glacial lake, carved out during the last ice age and left behind as the ice retreated from the plateau. It covers roughly 120 hectares, stretching about 3 km in length with a width of around 500 metres, and reaches depths of up to 39 metres. That combination of size and depth is enough to rank it among the eight largest natural lakes in France — a notable figure for a lake tucked away on a mountain plateau rather than in a lowland valley.

What is there to do at the lake?

The water stays relatively calm and sheltered, which suits sailing and light watersports well. A sailing centre on the southern shore, in Cholonge, runs courses and outings on dinghies and catamarans, while the beach on the northern side rents out pedal boats and kayaks for a more casual afternoon on the water. Rowing boats drifting across the surface are a familiar sight here throughout the summer season.

Anglers also come for the lake. It is classified as second-category fishing water, and night fishing is permitted by reservation between 1 April and 31 October. The lake holds whitefish (known locally as féra or corégone), lake trout, Arctic char, and among predatory species pike and perch, alongside carp, tench and roach.

Why is Laffrey linked to Napoleon?

The lake's best-known story dates to 7 March 1815. Returning from exile on Elba, Napoleon marched north toward Grenoble and found royalist troops waiting on the meadow overlooking the lake, sent to stop his advance. He is said to have walked forward unarmed and addressed the soldiers directly, telling them he was their emperor and that if any of them wished to kill their commander, here he stood. The troops sided with him rather than opening fire, and the meadow has been known ever since as the Prairie de la Rencontre — the Meadow of the Encounter. An imposing equestrian statue of Napoleon now stands above the grand lac, marking the spot and visible to anyone driving along the shoreline.

It is worth noting that Grand Lac de Laffrey is one of several lakes on this plateau — smaller lakes belonging to the same chain lie nearby — but it is the largest and deepest of the group by a clear margin.

FAQ

Where exactly is Grand Lac de Laffrey located? On the Plateau de la Matheysine in the Dauphiné Alps, in the Isère department, within the commune of Laffrey, bordering Cholonge to the south.

Can you sail or kayak on the lake? Yes. A sailing base at Cholonge on the south shore offers dinghy and catamaran outings, and the north beach rents kayaks and pedal boats.

Is the lake good for fishing? Yes, it is a second-category water holding whitefish, lake trout, Arctic char, pike, perch, carp, tench and roach; night fishing requires advance reservation and runs from April through October.

What is the Napoleon connection? The meadow above the lake, the Prairie de la Rencontre, is where Napoleon won over troops sent to block his return from Elba in March 1815. An equestrian statue overlooking the lake commemorates the event.

Is this the biggest lake in the Matheysine chain? Yes, Grand Lac de Laffrey is the largest and deepest of the lakes on this plateau.