Glimmering quietly just a few kilometers from the capital, this expansive water body hides a rich history beneath its 42 hectares. Once an active site for extraction, the renowned artificial lake of the city of Créteil now covers what was once an ancient quarry — an excavation of gypsum and gravel, or more specifically, a gravel pit dug into the old alluvial deposits of the Seine and Marne rivers.
Mining operations carried out from 1940 to 1976 gradually created deep ponds that have reached the water table. This explains much about the site’s unique character. The lake is not the result of a capricious stream or an abandoned old riverbed, as one might assume. Instead, it is the tangible outcome of industrial excavation, which was later transformed by a major urban and landscape development project that also led to the creation of the city's Leisure Island.
The development of the area is part of the broader urban planning of Nouveau Créteil. Where once materials were quarried, today it’s a place to walk, watch birds, enjoy water sports, or simply gaze at the water nestled between two iconic Créteil buildings.
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Location
Lake Creteil
lac de créteil
94000 Creteil
Route planner
Access
Créteil Pointe du Lac (line 8)
