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Petites orgues au bord du lac Pavin📷 Tangopaso, Public domain
Editor's pick

Lac Pavin

Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, France

Nature

A perfectly round crater lake about 90 m deep, ringed by beech woods. A flat path circles it in an hour.

Nearest town
Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, France
Category
Nature & parks
GPS
45.4960, 2.8880
Editor's pick
★

Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.

Good to know

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

Getting there

  • France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.

Featured in these trip guides

Auvergne volcanoes: Puy de Dôme to Puy Mary – Panorama Nord - Puy de dome© Thalia Gylonno · CC BY-SA 2.0
D680
Classic European drives

Auvergne volcanoes: Puy de Dôme to Puy Mary

135 km7 stops4 days
Cinder cones, crater lakes and summer dairy huts: by motorhome through the volcanic landscape of the Auvergne – Petites orgues au bord du lac Pavin© Tangopaso · Public domain
D680
In-depth road trip guides

Cinder cones, crater lakes and summer dairy huts: by motorhome through the volcanic landscape of the Auvergne

303 km14 stops8 days

Nearby

Murol castle – Murol - Église Saint-Ferréol 05© Pymouss · CC BY-SA 4.0
History

Murol castle

Murol, France
Puy de Dôme – Panorama Nord - Puy de dome© Thalia Gylonno · CC BY-SA 2.0
Editor's pick
Views

Puy de Dôme

Orcines, France
Le Claux L'Élancèze seen from Puy Mary© Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0
Editor's pick
Views

Puy Mary

Le Claux, France
Abbaye de Lavaudieu - cloître 06© Pymouss · CC BY-SA 4.0
History

Lavaudieu

Lavaudieu, France

Campsites nearby

  • Camping GCU de CompainsCampsite
    7 km from Lac Pavin
    TentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • La RibeyreCampsite
    9 km from Lac Pavin
    TentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Aire MurolMotorhome stopover
    9 km from Lac Pavin · 18 pitches
    MotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Camping-car park PicherandeMotorhome stopover
    10 km from Lac Pavin · 24 pitches
    MotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Domaine de la Grande CascadeCampsite
    10 km from Lac Pavin
    TentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Aire de camping-car d'Égliseneuve-d'EntraiguesMotorhome stopover
    10 km from Lac Pavin · 16 pitches
    MotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip

All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026

FAQs

Where is Lac Pavin?

Lac Pavin is in Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, France, at GPS 45.4960, 2.8880. It is about 11 km from Le Mont-Dore.

Can you camp near Lac Pavin?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Aire de la Biche, about 3 km away; within 25 km there are 81 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

Which road trips pass Lac Pavin?

Lac Pavin is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Auvergne volcanoes: Puy de Dôme to Puy Mary and Cinder cones, crater lakes and summer dairy huts: by motorhome through the volcanic landscape of the Auvergne.

What is there to see near Lac Pavin?

Places worth a stop nearby: Murol castle (10 km), Puy de Dôme (31 km), Puy Mary (46 km) and Lavaudieu (51 km).

When is the best time to visit Lac Pavin?

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

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