Barrage de Malpasset

To visit the Barrage de Malpasset, you follow road D37 which leads to the A8 highway, but just before the junction turn right and follow the valley of the Reyran upstream. The road, which is much used by heavy trucks and in its final part not made up, goes under the expressway and ends not far below the Barrage de Malpasset, the dam which burst in 1959. About 90 minutes should be allowed to wander around the remains of the dam; there is an explanatory diagram and a general sketch near the path.

Looking at the gigantic blocks of reinforced concrete which were torn away by the flood wave and which today lie strewn about everywhere, gives some idea of the enormous force of the water as it rushed towards the sea from the reservoir.