Saint Vincent les Forts

Saint-Vincent-les-Forts overlooks the Lac de Serre-Ponçon in the southern French Alps — a stunning launch but not for beginners: takeoff is short on a strong slope, and top-landing can be tricky. Once airborne it's a superb site with beautiful lake flying, and if you climb up to Dormillouse castle the XC options open right up (south towards Saint-Vincent or north along the Morgon for the huge Serre-Ponçon view). Very crowded in the summer season — know your priority rules and fly relaxed.

Launch & conditions

At the village entry — very short launch on a strong slope with a good breeze. NOT recommended for novices.

Getting there & local rules

The launch is in the village, next to the biggest hotel — you can't miss it. Find a road map to get to Saint-Vincent. Landings: in spring and autumn, land on the beach by the lake; NOT in summer (it becomes a campsite). Official LZ is the field next to takeoff — fly only if you're confident of landing on top. Top-landing can be tricky because of rotor if you drift too far downwind of the landing field — stay as close as possible to the windward side.

Local rules & hazards

Not for beginners. Lake breeze can get strong at takeoff during hot afternoon hours. Site is flyable when Mistral blows in the Rhône valley — but on those days it gets very crowded. Avoid rotor when top-landing: don't go too far downwind on approach.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Saint Vincent les Forts, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Saint Vincent les Forts with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.