Imagine a shimmering expanse of water reflecting the Parisian sky. This is Lac d’Enghien. It is not just a lake. It is a story etched in water and time.
Lac d’Enghien sits a mere eleven kilometers north of Paris. It lies entirely within the commune of Enghien-les-Bains. This commune blossomed on its shores in the 19th century.
But Lac d’Enghien’s story stretches back much further. Once, it was a vast marshland. That was until the Middle Ages. A dam was built then. This created the lake we see today. It sits at the bottom of the Montmorency valley.
Look closely. Can you sense the unique character of this water? Lac d’Enghien is fed by streams from the Montmorency forest and the Cormeilles butte. The Corbon stream helps replenish it. The Haras stream also adds to it. The d’Ermont and d’Andilly streams contribute as well.
Lac d’Enghien measures about 350 meters wide and 930 meters long. Its circumference stretches over three kilometers. The surface spans 43 hectares. It is the largest body of water in the Val d’Oise.
The lake’s depth is deceptively shallow. It averages just 1.8 meters. The deepest point reaches only 2.55 meters. This shallow depth contributes to the lake’s unique ecosystem.
Two islands dot Lac d’Enghien. The artificial Ile des Cygnes stands out. It was created from mud dredged in 1860.
Did you know Lac d’Enghien has thermal springs? They are some of the most sulfurous in France. These springs fueled the growth of Enghien-les-Bains. The springs have a concentration of sulfur. It is double or triple that of some Pyrenees stations. Unlike those, the water is cold. It measures only 11.8 to 13 degrees Celsius.
The water’s unique properties stem from its journey. Rainwater filters through gypsum and limestone. It gathers calcium sulfate then. This transforms into sulfide. It is due to bacteria in the organic peat at the lake’s bottom.
Before its transformation Lac d’Enghien was a swamp. Romans built the Jules Cesar road across it. Yet, they ignored the thermal springs.
By the 11th century, it was just a marsh. The lord of Montmorency ordered a dam. This raised the water level. It created Étang-Neuf-sous-Montmorency. This lake served as a fish reserve.
For centuries, the lake remained isolated. In the 18th century, only a mill and two houses stood by its shores. Disputes over water diversion were common. Monks even demanded eel tithes.
In 1766, Father Louis Cotte discovered the water’s virtues. He noticed a smelly stream escaping the lake. Cotte proved it was rich in sulfur. A bathhouse opened in 1779.
King Louis XVIII’s recovery in 1821 boosted Lac d’Enghien’s fame. Rapid urbanization followed. Marshes gave way to villas. Alexandre Dumas described the transformation.
The railway arrived in 1846. It connected the spa to Paris. In 1850, the town of Enghien-les-Bains was created. It was named after the lake.
Lac d’Enghien hosted early aviation experiments in 1906 and 1907. Louis Blériot built his aircraft here. Color cinema also debuted here.
Today, Lac d’Enghien faces environmental challenges. Urban runoff and algae blooms threaten its waters. Still, efforts continue to protect this fragile ecosystem.
Take a moment. Breathe in the fresh air. Listen to the gentle lapping of the water. Lac d’Enghien continues to evolve. It blends history, nature, and human endeavor. It offers a tranquil escape near Paris. It whispers tales of transformation. It invites you to become part of its ongoing story.