LAC DE SAINT-ANDEOL
Dominating the Aubrac plateau from the top of its 12 hectares, the Lac de Saint-Andéol is the largest and deepest (15 metres) in the region. Located in Marchastel, this mirror of water is an ideal stopover for walkers on their way to Santiago de Compostela, attracted by its immediate accessibility. Witness to an ancient history, this pilgrimage site is still watched over by an imposing cross
At 12 hectares, Saint-Andéol is the largest lake in Aubrac, nestling in the heart of an ancient volcanic crater in the Marchastel commune. A must-see and easily accessible stopover for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, the site is as fascinating for its geology as for its history.
As early as the 6th century, Grégoire de Tours described pagan rites where thousands of pilgrims threw offerings (coins, wool, cheese) in the hope of miraculous cures. Between the legend of a sunken city and its high granite cross watching over once-sacred waters, this 15-metre-deep lake remains one of the region's most enigmatic places.