On the beach
Right now
Sample dataIllustrative conditions — the live Open-Meteo marine feed wasn't reachable, so these are deterministic placeholder values that will be replaced automatically once the feed is available.
7-day outlook
Sample dataModeled placeholder forecast for demonstration — will be replaced by a live marine-weather feed.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 23.0 | 0.4 |
| Thu 3 | 23.4 | 0.4 |
| Fri 4 | 23.4 | 0.4 |
| Sat 5 | 23.1 | 0.4 |
| Sun 6 | 22.6 | 0.4 |
| Mon 7 | 22.3 | 0.4 |
| Tue 8 | 22.4 | 0.4 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Not classified2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Good2024
- 2025: Good2025
Good in the most recent season, and 10 of 10 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Not classified |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Good |
| 2025 | Good |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 16 |
| Feb | 15 |
| Mar | 16 |
| Apr | 18 |
| May | 20 |
| Jun | 23 |
| Jul | 25 |
| Aug | 26 |
| Sep | 25 |
| Oct | 23 |
| Nov | 20 |
| Dec | 18 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Carla-Bayle Plan D'Eau9.6 kmAriège
- 19 km
- 21 km
- Plan D'Eau Mondely21 kmAriège
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: École - Saint-Ybars, about ~400 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest village: Saint-Ybars, about ~600 m away.
- 3 places to eat within 1 km Closest is L'authentique, about ~90 m away.
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Water sports
Is the water clean at Lac de Saint Ybars?
Lac de Saint Ybars is a lake bathing site with an official EU Bathing Water rating of Good for the 2025 season — meets the EU bathing-water standard in the latest annual assessment. That annual classification comes from the EU Bathing Water Directive: national authorities test for two indicator bacteria, intestinal enterococci and E. coli, throughout the bathing season, then report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency (EEA) the following spring — the 2025 season's rating was published in spring 2026, and the 2026 season won't be rated until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. On site you'll find Toilets, Restaurant, and Parking. There's parking about ~130 m from the beach.
Looking to avoid the busiest weeks? The water is typically warmest around August, with the most reliable swimming window running July–September; outside that stretch you'll find a cooler sea but a quieter beach. That rating has been consistent: every one of the 10 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. The nearest town, Saint-Ybars, is about ~600 m away.
Worth remembering: “Good” isn't a live reading, it's an annual grade — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — set once a year from that season's water samples and describing the average, not this afternoon's conditions. For what the sea is doing right now, check the “Right now” panel and 7-day outlook above. It sits in Ariège. There are 3 places to eat within a kilometre — L'authentique is the closest, about ~90 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lac de Saint Ybars safe to swim in?
Yes. Lac de Saint Ybars's official 2025 rating is Good — one notch below the top classification — and 10 of 10 classified seasons here have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Good for 2 straight years.
What temperature is the sea at Lac de Saint Ybars right now?
The figure above (about 23°C) is placeholder data — the live marine-weather feed wasn't reachable when this page was built, and the real reading will appear automatically once it is. That's the reading right off Ariège. On the modeled climatology here, August usually runs warmest.
When does Lac de Saint Ybars have the warmest water?
For the warmest water, aim for July–September — that's when the modeled sea temperature is typically at its best. That applies to the water around Ariège. Within that window, August is typically the single warmest month.
How is bathing water quality actually assessed?
It's based on official water samples: authorities test for intestinal enterococci and E. coli through the season, then report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency each spring, which assigns one of four grades — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. A few national authorities, including Croatia's IZOR, also publish individual samples during the season itself, ahead of that annual report — that isn't yet available for Lac de Saint Ybars.
Is there parking near Lac de Saint Ybars?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is École - Saint-Ybars, about ~400 m away. The nearest town is Saint-Ybars, about ~600 m away.