Saint-Julien Beach at Lake Esparron

Lake Esparron is located between the Var and Alpes de Haute Provence departments at the end of the Lower Verdon Gorges. Its mouth is spanned by a bridge, the symbolic starting point of the lower gorges.

Like Lake Sainte-Croix, this is an artificial reservoir, created in 1967 following the construction of the Gréoux Dam. It is the furthest downstream of the five reservoirs built on the Verdon River before it flows into the Durance. This reservoir supplies the EDF power plant in Vinon-sur-Verdon for hydroelectric production, as well as the Canal de Provence Company for irrigation and drinking water. Thanks to this system, the lake's water level remains constant year-round.

History:
The Gréoux-les-Bains dam, built in 1967, holds back 80 million cubic meters of water, forming Lake Esparron-de-Verdon. Its impoundment flooded the Esparron plain and even cut off the old road leading to Saint-Julien le Montagnier by submerging the bridge, the remains of which are still visible.

Access:
- By car from the D8 of Gréoux les Bains via the "route du lac" approximately 7 kilometers, 10 minutes of poor condition track with "potholes""
- On foot: 5.5 kilometers from the center of Saint-Julien to reach the shores of the lake (follow the GR de Pays markings)

Activities:
- Water sports center in Saint-Julien Plage offering canoe, kayak, paddleboard and electric boat rentals from April to October. It's a starting point for exploring the Lower Gorges.
- Hiking: Neighborhood walk (9 km - 2h30) & GR de Pays "Tour du lac d'Esparron" (66 km - 5-day trek)
- Fishing: boat ramp on Saint-Julien beach and fishing spot available at beach level.
- Swimming is unsupervised and at the users' own risk. The sloping and unstable banks, the depth of the water, and the fluctuating water level make access to the lake dangerous. Note that there is a designated and supervised swimming area in July and August on the beach on the Esparron side.

Equipment:
- On-site parking: regulated access limited to 120 vehicles, payable from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm in July/August, with an attendant present. The municipality acts as a tollbooth 5 km upstream. Vehicles must park facing outward in case of need for evacuation. Vehicles exceeding 2.20 meters in height or 5.50 meters in length are not permitted. A motorhome area is available in the center of Saint-Julien le Montagnier.
- dry toilets available

Regulations:
- Access subject to restrictions on access to forest areas from June to September.
- Fires, stoves and any other transport of fires are strictly prohibited.
- Jumping from bridges and cliffs is prohibited.
- Internal combustion engine boats, beach craft and electric foil craft are prohibited.
- Dogs must be kept on a leash, access to water is prohibited and dog waste must be picked up by their owners.
Wild camping and bivouacking are prohibited. Motorhomes and vans are prohibited overnight. A motorhome area is available in the centre of Saint-Julien le Montagnier.