Swimming · Lake Sainte-Croix
The Verdon’s great turquoise lake has more than a dozen named beaches (and plenty of unnamed coves), spread across five communes and two departments. Here’s which is which, on which shore, with what access — and the essential information: where swimming is supervised, and where it isn’t.
Locations sourced from open OpenStreetMap data, cross-checked with the Lacs & Gorges du Verdon tourist office portal. To confirm on site: a beach can be closed, or access can change with the season or the lake’s water level.
Safety in the Verdon → State of the Verdon (releases, weather) → Month-by-month temperature →
The village beach, below Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon (north shore). Sand and gravel, a gently sloping entry into the water, toilets, picnic tables and lawns. Lifeguard-supervised swimming area in summer.
A leisure base on the north shore, on the Galetas side (Moustiers). A point of access to the water and to rentals, dogs allowed.
This is where, beneath the Pont du Galetas, the turquoise lake meets the entrance to the Grand Canyon. Rowing boats, pedal boats, canoes and paddleboards are all for hire here, to paddle up the first cliffs of the gorge. Supervised swimming area in July–August, from 11am to 6pm (first-aid post). Very busy in summer.
At the foot of the village of Aiguines, at the entrance to the gorges (left bank). A large beach that acts as a launch point for boat rentals, very popular for heading up the Verdon by electric boat.
The family beach at Les Salles-sur-Verdon, shaded, between the La Source and Les Pins campsites, below the village. A municipal watersports base, a snack bar and parking. Lifeguard-supervised swimming area in summer. The island of Costebelle, offshore, is the top of a hill drowned when the lake was filled: about a hundred metres from the nearest shore, it is easily reached by kayak or pedal boat, with a 360° view over the lake. The municipal watersports base hires out paddleboards (€10/h), kayaks (€14/h or €38/day) and windsurfing boards (€18/h), and also runs a sailing school. A little further along, on the Charoup cove, the operator Verdon Plage offers pedal boats, canoe-kayaks and paddleboards at €15/h (the rate drops the longer you hire).
The waterside esplanade of the medieval village of Bauduen (south shore). A watersports centre, terraces facing the lake.
The gentlest way to pass beneath the Pont du Galetas and brush past the entrance to the gorges. Licence-free electric boats, pedal boats, canoes and paddleboards can all be hired right by the main beaches (combustion engines are banned across the whole lake).
Pédalos chez Nounet (pedal boats, from ~€25/h), KAKOBEACH (electric boats, from ~€40/h), Location Chabassole (pedal boats from €20/h, canoes from €20/h, paddleboards from €15/h — open from late April to late September).
Lac-Loc Sainte-Croix (electric boats, pedal boats, canoes) and village-based operators.
Base Nautique de l’Étoile (electric boats, pedal boats, canoes; snack bar).
Centre Nautique de Bauduen (sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing).
Prices are indicative, checked in July 2026 — confirm with rental operators. Find all the lake’s watersports on the Swimming & lakes in the Verdon page.
Not many. A lifeguard-supervised swimming area with a first-aid post is set up in summer (July–August) at the village beach of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, at Margaridon beach (Les Salles-sur-Verdon) and at Galetas beach (Aiguines, from 11am to 6pm); the Bauduen tourist office listing also mentions one at the village beach. Most of the lake’s other beaches aren’t supervised: be extra careful with children.
There is no objective ranking: it is a matter of taste. For the setting, Galetas beach, at the entrance to the Grand Canyon beneath the Pont du Galetas, offers the view of the gorges — but it is also very busy in summer. For more peace and quiet, the beaches on the east shore (Les Salles) and the village of Bauduen (south shore) are great alternatives.
On several beaches yes: on a lead at Galetas, at Chabassole, and at Commandon and Charoup; at La Cadeno, dogs are listed as allowed, with no detail about a lead. But not everywhere: dogs are banned from Margaridon beach and from the supervised swimming area at Galetas. Check the signage on site. See our guide “The Verdon with a dog”.
At the surface, it’s around 24-25 °C in summer. But the deep water stays cold (it’s a dam reservoir): watch out for cold-water shock if you dive in. And swimming is banned in the river, inside the gorges, because of EDF water releases that can raise the level suddenly.
Yes, from the Galetas, by canoe, pedal boat or licence-free electric boat, as far as the limit marked by yellow buoys (~2 km). Beyond that, it’s a protected natural area (habitat of the Rhône apron, an endangered fish): landing and navigation are banned. Navigation also closes when wind speed exceeds 28 km/h.
Car parks serve the main beaches (Galetas, Margaridon, the village of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon), often paid and full to capacity by midday in summer. Come early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
The external sources this page relies on, one click away. We would rather you be able to contradict us than ask you to take our word for it.
The Park’s official page about navigation on Lake Sainte-Croix: speed rules, compulsory equipment, prohibited zones and wind conditions.
Tourist office covering 16 villages of the left bank and the lakes, including Aiguines, Bauduen and Trigance: outdoor activities, beaches and providers in the area.
Municipal tourist office on Lake Sainte-Croix: swimming, fishing, the Territoire Vélo label and Espace Cyclosport.
All 3 links responded during our last automated check, on 11 October 2026. A broken link is removed, never left in place.
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