Salagou dam: visit and information
Discover a unique landscape where the red earth of the ruffes meets the deep waters of the lake created by the construction of the Salagou dam. This structure has created an exceptional natural area near Clermont-l’Hérault. To make the most of it, our Lac de Salagou camping club is just five minutes away, the perfect starting point for discovering the Hérault department.
What you need to know for your visit
To help you prepare for your visit to this emblematic site, here’s some key information.
- History: built from 1964 to 1968 by the Hérault department for irrigation and flood management.
- Structure: 60 m high basalt rockfill gravity dam, holding back 103 million cubic metres of water.
- Activities: ideal for mountain biking (27 km round the lake), hiking, fishing and water sports.
- Access: near Clermont-l’Hérault, via the A75 (exit 55), with plenty of free parking.
- Label: Classified as a “Grand Site de France” since 2024, recognizing the value of the landscape and its management.
What is the Salagou dam?
The Salagou dam is a gravity dam. Its stability is ensured by its own mass, made up of a stack of local basalt rocks. This design enables it to contain the 750-hectare artificial lake. Its watertightness is guaranteed by a bituminous concrete mask applied to its upstream face.
Located in the commune of Clermont-l’Hérault, this structure impedes the course of the Salagou, a tributary of the Lergue which then joins the Hérault river. Owned by the Conseil départemental de l’Hérault, it is managed and monitored by BRL Exploitation. Water management is ensured by state-of-the-art equipment and regular inspections for the safety of the 13 downstream communes.
What is the story behind its construction?
The adventure of this structure began in 1959, when the Conseil Général de l’Hérault recognized the need to control the region’s water resources. The initial project todam the Hérault was abandoned, as it would have flooded more farmland than it irrigated. The Salagou valley, with its immense storage potential, became the obvious solution.
The project, carried out from 1964 to 1968, was a real technical feat for its time. Impoundment, slow and gradual, took place from 1969 to 1971, radically transforming the landscape. This birth also had its tragedy: the village of Celles, emptied of its inhabitants, was to be engulfed. Miraculously spared by the final water level, it remained a ghost hamlet for decades before embarking on an exemplary rehabilitation today.
How to visit the Salagou dam and what to see
To appreciate the size of the structure, the best vantage point is the road that runs alongside it. Although direct access to the dam is forbidden to the public, this road allows you to grasp the contrast between the reservoir and the valley below. Your visit should also be an immersion in a unique geology. The“ruffes“, red earth 250 million years old, give the site its distinctive character.
Around the lake, villages such as Liausson, Octon and Salasc are well worth a visit. Don’t miss the nearby Cirque de Mourèze, a spectacular dolomitic chaos. For a bird’s-eye view, the hike to the Salagou dam, which leads to the summit of Mont Liausson, is a must. The panorama of the lake and surrounding countryside is breathtaking.
What to do around the lake
The site is a paradise for sports enthusiasts. With family or friends, you’re bound to find an activity to suit your taste.
- Mountain biking and hiking: the Tour du Lac is a renowned 27 km mountain bike circuit, marked in red (N°1) and classified as difficult. Its playful trails on the ruffes and more technical sections make it a popular challenge. Shorter family trails are also available.
- Water sports: kayaks, paddles, pedalos and catamarans are available for hire from the Base de Plein Air and other service providers. It’s the ideal way to cool off and discover secret coves. Our conveniently located Hérault campsite is a major asset for organizing your sporting holiday.
- Fishing: fishing at the Salagou dam is very popular. The lake is renowned for its carnivore populations (pike-perch, pike) and record-breaking carp. Beware, however, of the strict regulations governing fishing: no internal combustion engines, no-kill periods and defined night-fishing sectors.
Practical information for your stay
- Access: from the A75, take exit 55 “Clermont-l’Hérault” and follow signs for “Lac du Salagou”. The site is about 45 minutes from Montpellier.
- Parking: several free parking lots are available on the main riverbanks (Clermont-l’Hérault, Liausson, Les Vailhès).
- Prices: access to the lake shore and the area around the dam is entirely free. Activities are subject to a fee.
- Best time of year: summer attracts many bathers. However, spring and autumn are the ideal seasons for sporting activities, with milder temperatures and even more intense colors. The department’s visitor statistics confirm the growing appeal of these periods.
The Salagou dam has shaped much more than just a lake; it has given life to a complete destination, where industrial history, geology and nature-based leisure activities come together. To organize your stay at the Salagou dam, our Lac de Salagou camping club is the perfect base camp for discovering this Hérault treasure.
