Malsaucy lake, near Belfort, combines a supervised beach, a departmental water sports base, and several kilometres of trails around the water. It’s a well-rounded site for a full day out, but let’s be honest about the distance: from La Bresse, plan on over an hour of driving. This guide covers the opening hours, access, and what there actually is to do in 2026, to help you decide whether the trip is worth it.
Where Malsaucy is, and why it’s not a nearby outing
The Malsaucy site sits across the communes of Evette-Salbert and Sermamagny, in the Territoire de Belfort, 8 km north of Belfort via the CD465 and CD24 according to the departmental guide to the sentier des Étangs. From La Bresse, the route goes through Belfort before reaching the site: plan on over an hour of driving in total.
That’s why this piece treats Malsaucy as a full-day excursion rather than an alternative to the usual Vosges lakes. If you’re after swimming close to La Bresse, our pages on the lac de Lispach or the lac de Pierre-Percée remain closer options. Malsaucy makes more sense as a day trip built around a real change of scenery: you leave the mid-mountain Vosges landscape for a large, developed and lively lowland lake.
A lake with an industrial past
Malsaucy lake dates back to 1571. It was created by the Church, which at the time required the faithful to replace meat with fish on fasting days: fish-farming ponds answered that religious requirement. In 1671, Cardinal Mazarin leased it to Belfort’s Maître de Forges (ironmaster). Malsaucy’s water was then used to make up for the Savoureuse river’s low summer flow, keeping Belfort’s metalworking industry running.
Today, the site is a bird sanctuary run by the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux and, together with the neighbouring Véronne pond, forms a designated Espace Naturel Sensible (protected natural area) rich in wildlife. A red-marked loop trail, the tour de la Véronne, lets you observe the wetland from boardwalks and birdwatching hides. For walkers, the full sentier des Étangs trail covers 9.5 km, with 97.5 metres of elevation gain, for around 3 hours of walking (rated moderate).
The on-site Maison départementale de l’environnement rounds out the offering with nature-awareness activities.
What there is to do on site
The site combines two distinct areas, both run by the Département du Territoire de Belfort.
The beach has fine sand, pedal boats, beach volleyball, pétanque, and children’s play areas, alongside the supervised swimming area. Water quality is regularly checked by the Agence régionale de santé, with samples taken every two weeks during the season (weekly during heatwaves).
The water sports base offers sailing and windsurfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, chiliboat, and archery games, plus mountain biking and orienteering on the land side of the site. No advance booking is needed during opening hours: you simply pay an entry fee on site. Annual pass options are available for those who come back to the area regularly.
A few rules worth knowing before you go: dogs must be kept on a lead across the whole site and are allowed neither on the beach nor in the swimming area, bikes aren’t allowed on the beach, and barbecues are only tolerated on legs, in a dedicated area. Large inflatable buoys and personal boats aren’t allowed in the supervised swimming area: any water activity needs to go through the water sports base.
2026 opening hours and summer closure
Since 12 July 2026 and until 30 August, supervised swimming runs daily from 10am to 7pm, with lifeguarding provided by the SDIS 90 teams. The water sports base opens from 2pm to 7pm, weather permitting. Its opening days vary from one period to the next and the published dates differ from one page of the departmental website to another: check the current calendar with the Territoire de Belfort department before setting off.
One thing to plan around if you’re heading there in late June or early July: the site closes every year for the setup and running of the Eurockéennes de Belfort festival. In 2026, the department closed the beach and all access to it from Wednesday 24 June at 7pm, with reopening announced for 12 July for the beach and 13 July for the water sports base. Outside that window, access follows the hours above as normal.
Getting there and planning your day
Parking is free, but only in the marked car parks. A cycle path connects the passerelle François Mitterrand in Belfort to the site entrance, with a supervised bike park during the season. A shuttle service, the Nautibus, runs in summer (details on the Optymo network website). From Belfort train station, it’s a 5-minute train ride, with bikes allowed on board if needed.
Given the distance from La Bresse, it’s best to treat this as a full day out rather than trying to combine it with other stops in the Hautes-Vosges on the same day. A morning by the water, a picnic on site, and an afternoon of kayaking or walking around the Véronne pond are enough to fill the day at a relaxed pace.
Key takeaways
Malsaucy works well as a full-day change of pace, with a genuine water sports base and supervised swimming, but it doesn’t replace the outings close to La Bresse. To stay in the area, head instead to the lac de Retournemer or the cascade de Tendon. For another full-day option in a different direction, autumn deer rutting season (brame du cerf) is a further alternative, and one that’s much closer to home.
To plan a stay in the Hautes-Vosges with this kind of pick-and-choose excursion, our chalets in La Bresse make a central base to start from.
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from La Bresse to Malsaucy?
Plan on over an hour of driving. The route first goes through Belfort, then on to the Malsaucy site in Evette-Salbert / Sermamagny, 8 km north of Belfort via the CD465 and CD24 according to the departmental guide to the sentier des Étangs. This isn't a short trip nearby: plan for a full day.
Is swimming supervised, and on which dates in 2026?
Yes. Since 12 July 2026 and until 30 August, swimming is allowed and supervised daily from 10am to 7pm, with lifeguarding provided by the SDIS 90 teams, according to the information published by the Territoire de Belfort department. Large inflatable buoys and boats aren't allowed in the supervised swimming area.
Does the site close at any point during the summer?
Yes, every year the beach and the water sports base close for the setup and running of the Eurockéennes festival. In 2026, the department closed the beach and all access to it from Wednesday 24 June at 7pm, with reopening announced for 12 July for the beach and 13 July for the water sports base. Outside that period, the water sports base opens from 2pm to 7pm, weather permitting.