• ABOUT THE SPOT

Wind Surfing in Lac de Monteynard, Grenoble, Rhone-Alpes France

Surface area:
6.6 km² (2.5 mi²)
Maximum depth / Surface elevation:
115 m (377 ft) / 630 m (2066 ft)
Best time to visit:
May to September
Average wind direction / speed:
NNW,NNE,ESE,SSE / 5 knots (9.2 kph)
Average temperature:
12-22˚C/53.6-71.6˚F
Lac de Monteynard-Avignonet is an artificial water reservoir serving the Électricité de France power station of Drac Station. The reservoir is bounded by the canyons of Ebron and Drac and belongs to the Isère department. It was created in 1961after the built of a 145 m / 476 ft high dam. The reservoir is up to 10 km / 6.3 mi long and in some places reaches at 300 m / 984 ft wide. On the lake, it is often windy and wavy, something that makes it one of the best places to practice water sports.

One of these water sports that are very popular in Lac de Monteynard is wind surfing. It is only 30 minutes away from the south of Grenoble and will captivate your senses with the beautiful turquoise crystal waters. Beaches are made of gravel while the slope depends on the fill level of the lake (steep off season or sloping summer).

No matter your level of experience, there are schools available on the spot with a long tradition in wind surfing and excellently trained instructors to guide you through this awesome experience of wind surfing. If you are a beginner, you will easily start to learn how to wind surf and if you are a pro, you will be brought into a new dimension of fun and accessible solutions to progress to the highest level.

There are two options that meet the practice of windsurfing, at high speed (funboard planning) and low speed navigation. Learning on the spot is smooth. It helps you develop feelings and acquire the key actions that are necessary to practice windsurfing when the wind speeds increases or when the surface becomes less flat.

The ideal wind direction is from the NNW, NNE, ESE, SSE and its average speed lies at 5 knots/9.2 kph. When thermals are blowing in the axis of the lake, the wind reaches at 18 knots/33.3 kph for about 12 to 18 hours. The temperature ranges between averages of 12 to 22˚C/53.6-71.6˚F.

Please note that windsurfing is prohibited in some beaches across the lake, so make sure you are informed first, before launching your board on the water. If you decide to wind surf in Lac de Monteynard, bear in mind that the beaches offer regularly cleaned toilets, drinking water points, giant barbeques facilities, tennis and volleyball pitches, playgrounds and a few tables and benches. So, double the fun and arrange a full weekend or even holidays!