Le Lac de Saint-Léger

The Lac Saint-Léger site site du lac Saint-Léger is well known to geologists all over France.

Lac de St Léger, which is more akin to a peat bog, is a Natura 2000 site. The ecological wealth of the site is inestimable in terms of both flora and fauna. In particular, you can find the Sabots de Vénus, a protected orchid, as well as other lesser-known plant species such as the choin ferrugineux. A rare mollusc, the Vertigo Angustior, has also made its home here. The little extra: water lilies in bloom in June/July on the lake… to look at without touching!

A discovery trail discovery trail starts at Montclar station (approx. 2 hours).
7 panels present the richness of the La Blanche valley: the geology, the customs of the 19th-century inhabitants (the lake, the lime kiln, the hutch), the presence of the Knights Templar, the mysterious Druid ‘sacrificial stone’ carved with crosses and holes, birds passing through on the glacial lake…
It’s also a fantastic site for discovering orthinology, and you’ll find a post on the edge of the forest where you can watch the birds without disturbing them.

Still following the signs, you come to the chapel of Saint Léger. It is thought to have been built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar, who guarded the pass at the time and ensured the safety of trade and travellers in those unsafe times.

This magical site offers a timeless break surrounded by magnificent scenery. Discover the unsuspected past of this site. Take a walk in the cool of the woods and discover the lake below, with its incomparable flora and fauna.