Forest loops
A green tongue of land near the dam.
Nikilux — CC BY-SA 3.0 lu · TRANOS APOSTOLOS — CC BY 3.0 · Hejnjahns — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Michielverbeek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hejnjahns — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Upper Sûre Lake is a large reservoir in northwest Luxembourg and the country's largest body of water. Stretching about 10 km through a wooded valley above Esch-sur-Sûre, with an area of some 3.8 square kilometres, it is a favourite summer spot for quiet water sports. It was created by the Esch-sur-Sûre Dam, built in the 1950s and 1960s to meet the country's needs for drinking water and electricity. The commune of Lac de la Haute-Sûre, formed in 1979, took its name from the lake. The surrounding area forms the Upper Sûre Nature Park, and the valley has been a Ramsar site, in Luxembourg and neighbouring Belgium, since 2004. You see green loops of forest running down to the water, a tongue of land almost cutting the lake near the dam, and the huge curved dam wall visible from the bridge and road. People come to sail, canoe and kayak, with walking trails and peaceful creeks around the shore. On winter mornings mist rises over the water, and the scene looks completely different from summer. The lake lies about 36.8 km from Luxembourg City and 2.1 km from Esch-sur-Sûre Castle in a straight line. As a drinking water source it has usage rules, so keep to designated swimming areas, follow local signs and bring a jacket in the morning.
A green tongue of land near the dam.
A huge curve above the river.
Canoes and kayaks in the creeks.
Upper Sûre Nature Park, northwest Luxembourg
Yes in designated areas, so follow the signs, since the lake supplies drinking water.
Summer for water sports and autumn for forest colours.