This page reviews swimming in the Vosges lakes after the 2026 season, which is now over. The 2026 supervision periods are given in the past tense. As of 6 October 2026, no date has been published for 2027: the town halls, the Saulxures leisure base and the health ministry have not yet communicated about the next season.
Three situations stand out: a supervised beach, bathing that is tolerated but unsupervised, and a lake where entering the water is prohibited. The rules for paddleboards, canoes or pedalos differ again from those for swimming. Signs and any order displayed on site take priority on the day of your visit.
Lakes and swimming areas compared (2026 season)
| Site | Swimming | Supervision in 2026 | Personal water craft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lac de Gérardmer | Developed or natural areas shown on the municipal plan | Union Nautique supervised; other areas unsupervised | Launch in the designated zones, life jacket compulsory |
| Lac de Longemer | Tolerated outside signed prohibited areas | Unsupervised | Only the craft allowed by municipal orders |
| Lac de la Moselotte at Saulxures | Developed east zone; west zone prohibited | 27 June to 30 August 2026, 10am to 6pm | Personal equipment prohibited in the beach and swimming area |
| Lac de Retournemer | Prohibited | None | Do not treat it as a water-sports base |
| Corbeaux, Blanchemer, Lispach and Ténine | Prohibited | None | Prohibited, except fishing in line with the regulations |
Lac de Gérardmer: a supervised beach and unsupervised areas
The most clearly regulated option is the Union Nautique de Gérardmer. The town hall presents two developed bathing areas, supervision by lifeguards, beaches and toilets. Entry is paid. The 2026 sheet from the health ministry lists the site as developed and supervised for a season running from 6 June to 6 September 2026. Six water samples, from 19 May to 1 September 2026, are all rated “good”; the site appears as “not classified” for 2026. The 2027 season has not been published yet.
The municipal plan also identifies natural areas where swimming is tolerated up to 25 metres from the shore. These areas are unsupervised and border hazardous edges, a reserve and a protected zone closed to access. Use the official swimming and navigation plan rather than picking a shore at random.
Navigation does not follow from the right to swim. According to the town hall’s current page, leisure craft (paddleboards, kayaks, canoes) no longer pay a navigation fee, a life jacket or buoyancy suit is compulsory on board, and launching is limited to the designated zones.
Lac de Longemer: tolerated swimming without lifeguards
Xonrupt-Longemer states that swimming is tolerated but not supervised, and that the municipality accepts no liability in case of accident. An order does prohibit swimming on several stretches marked by signs. Enter the water only from a sector that is not prohibited and check the signs on arrival.
The municipal website also points out that any craft not named in its orders is presumed prohibited on the lake. Rental pedalos or boats therefore do not mean that a personal paddleboard or kayak is allowed.
The Xonrupt-Longemer regulations page links to information on bathing water quality: check it before entering the water.
Lac de la Moselotte: the supervised area at Saulxures in 2026
At the Saulxures-sur-Moselotte leisure base, the 2026 municipal order divided the lake into two parts. The east zone, developed and marked by buoys, hosted authorised, supervised swimming from 27 June to 30 August 2026, 10am to 6pm. The west zone is closed to swimming for safety reasons (depth, steep banks).
The base announced paid access from 9.30am to 7pm over the same period, a wider slot than the supervision hours. Personal paddleboards, kayaks and other craft were not allowed in the beach and swimming area. The 2027 season dates have not been announced.
Lakes where swimming is prohibited
Lac de Retournemer is a private lake where the municipality states that swimming is prohibited. Visit it for the scenery, not for swimming.
In La Bresse, the official rule is unambiguous for four sites:
- Lac des Corbeaux;
- Lac de Blanchemer;
- Lac de Lispach;
- Lac de la Ténine.
Swimming and all water activities are prohibited there, except fishing in line with the regulations. For Lac des Corbeaux, see also our page on the swimming ban and alternatives.
Checks to make before setting out
A rule published for one lake does not apply to the next, and a 2026 rule does not apply to 2027. Before each outing:
- check the town hall or operator’s page;
- look at the official health results where a bathing site is listed;
- read the signs, the flag and any temporary orders;
- do not carry over a swimming permission to paddleboards, canoes or other craft.
If you want a covered, supervised option near the centre, the La Bresse swimming pool complex lets you plan a fallback that does not depend on a lake’s rules. To organise the rest of your stay, see also our summer family activities in La Bresse.
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Frequently asked questions
Where was swimming supervised in the Vosges in summer 2026?
Gérardmer's Union Nautique was a developed, supervised beach with paid entry, listed by the health ministry from 6 June to 6 September 2026. At Lac de la Moselotte, swimming was supervised from 27 June to 30 August 2026, 10am to 6pm, in the marked east zone. 2027 dates have not been announced.
Can you swim in Lac de Longemer?
The municipality states that swimming is tolerated but not supervised. Several stretches are formally prohibited by order, so visitors must follow the signs displayed on site.
Can you swim in Lac des Corbeaux?
No. Swimming and all water activities other than regulated fishing are prohibited at the Corbeaux, Blanchemer, Lispach and Ténine lakes.
When will supervised swimming resume in 2027?
Not announced yet. As of 6 October 2026, none of the sources consulted (town halls, leisure base, health ministry) publishes dates or an order for the 2027 season.
If swimming is allowed, is paddleboarding allowed too?
Not necessarily. Navigation has separate rules: launch areas at Gérardmer, craft limited by municipal orders at Longemer, and personal craft prohibited in the beach and swimming area at Saulxures.