La Roche Beach: the natural shore of Lake Gruyère

The quiet shore of Lake Gruyère

There are beaches you go to in order to see people, and beaches you go to in order to forget them. La Roche Beach belongs to the second category. On the eastern shore of the lake, surrounded by dense vegetation, it stays markedly calmer than its neighbours even in high summer. In summer, a refreshment stand lets you have a drink without having brought everything with you, which makes it a pleasant compromise between comfort and nature. It is also the starting point for walks along the shore and for water outings: the area around the Port de la Serbache hosts the rental of kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.

What your children will discover

They discover a shore that is alive: reeds, dragonflies, water birds taking off just above the lake. The water, calm in this cove, lends itself well to first accompanied swims and to games at the edge. The older ones often look up at the craft gliding past further out and leave with an idea in mind: to try the kayak next time. The guided outings from this shore lead towards the Île d'Ogoz and the Île aux Oiseaux.

What you do there and the atmosphere on site

You settle on the grass, you swim, you walk a little along the water. The pace is slow, the atmosphere family-oriented and local. Families often come for half a day, sometimes rounded off with a paddle or kayak rental. The summer refreshment stand bridges the gap between the swim and the end-of-day drink, with the lake and the Prealps as a backdrop.

As everywhere on Lake Gruyère, the water level moves: this artificial lake is held back by the Rossens dam and its level varies with the seasons. On a natural shore like this one, you notice it from one visit to the next, with a wider or narrower band of grass and pebbles. Nothing that prevents a swim, but it is better to know before promising the children last year's exact beach.

Before you go

• Recommended age: all ages; kayak and paddle from around 8 years old with an adult, depending on the provider
• Duration: half a day or a full day
• Price: free beach; water rentals charged by the providers on the lake
• Pushchair accessibility: natural shore, practicality to be assessed on site
• Transport: by car from Bulle or Fribourg
• What to bring: insect repellent, water shoes, a picnic
• Best season: July and August; the refreshment stand and the rentals operate in summer

Tips from parents

• If your children want to try the kayak or the paddle, book ahead: the rental season is short, roughly June to September.
• The providers on the lake often apply a half-price rate for children; check the minimum age when booking.
• Bring insect repellent: the dense vegetation that gives the place its charm also has its residents.
• The refreshment stand only opens in season: bring something to drink outside the summer months.
• Keep children in sight, swimming is not supervised.

Useful information

• Address: Chemin du Bas du Riau, 1634 La Roche
• Official website: https://www.commune-laroche.ch/
• Opening hours: beach with open access; refreshment stand and water rentals during the summer season
• Access (transport): by car from Bulle or Fribourg; public transport connections to be checked on cff.ch

Why we recommend it

Because this is the beach on Lake Gruyère that best combines nature with the chance to be active: you swim in peace, you eat something in summer, and you can follow it up with a kayak outing towards the Île d'Ogoz. A good plan when you want more than a day on a towel.

In a nutshell

A green and quiet shore of Lake Gruyère, with a summer refreshment stand and water outings leaving from La Roche.