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The Lac d'Allier: walks and water sports

Published 28 October 2026

At the foot of the parks, the Allier widens into a vast 120-hectare stretch of water. The Lac d'Allier was created in 1963 by a bridge-dam and extends for 2.5 km, between the Bellerive bridge and the dam. It hosted the European Rowing Championships as early as 1967.

On the water

• Sailing, water-skiing, wakeboarding and paddleboarding with the Club nautique de Vichy.
• Canoeing, kayaking and rafting with Vichy Aventure.
• Electric boats to hire for a relaxed trip.
• The La Mouette and Le Mirage shuttles, free in summer, cross the Allier between the two banks. They take up to 12 passengers, bikes and pushchairs included.

By the water

• The Célestins beach, in the Parc Kennedy: 35 metres of sand, a paddling pool, water games and supervised swimming in summer.
• The circuit of the lake, around 6 km, flat: 1 hr 15 to 1 hr 30 on foot, 20 to 30 minutes by bike. It passes through the Parc Napoléon III, the lakeside esplanade and the Centre omnisports.
• Pedal carts, mini golf, open-air riverside cafés and picnic areas for sunny days.
• The Parc omnisports, on the other bank: more than 120 hectares devoted to sport, including a disc golf course.

Access to the banks is free of charge, every day. Club and shuttle times change with the season: check before you go.

Stay near the lake

Our apartments in the spa quarter and the Quartier de France are a few minutes' walk from the banks. In Bellerive-sur-Allier, on the other bank, our houses around Vichy offer more space for families.