Loop 16: Tour of the lake of Coiselet

The southernmost of the Jura lakes is an artificial reservoir created in 1970 on the Ain River. A tourist attraction surrounded by cliffs, the place is a mixture of legends and history.
The village of Thoirette marks the southern limit of the department. Crossed by the river Ain, nonchalant at this place, it is the gathering point of fishermen attracted by the fame of the site. It is also from here that the road leads to the small village of Coisia, which made history one day in 2004 when roadworks revealed 140 million year old dinosaur footprints, visible from the roadside. The route to Condes, a small tourist resort on the shores of Lake Coiselet, is dominated by the Oliferne peak and the impressive ruins perched on the cliffs. This castle, destroyed in the 16th century by Henry IV's troops, controlled navigation in the valley and has been undergoing restoration for several years.
At the end of the lake, a bridge crosses the river Ain and leads to Chancia, another very touristic village with its holiday houses and its small island. The road continues for 7km along the left bank of the lake to the Coiselet dam before reaching Thoirette.