If you’ve been to Tignes or Val d’Isère before, there’s a good chance you’ve spotted the striking figure standing high above the Lac du Chevril. Looking out across the valley, La Dame du Lac (The Lady of the Lake) has become one of the most recognisable landmarks in the French Alps. But who is she, why is she there and what is the story behind this impressive sculpture? The answer takes us back to one of the most significant events in the history of Tignes.
The Lost Village of Tignes
Before Tignes became one of Europe’s premier ski resorts, it was a traditional farming community. The original village stood in the valley where the turquoise waters of the Lac du Chevril now lie. In the years following the Second World War, France needed more electricity to support its growing population and industry. Plans were approved to build a huge hydroelectric dam across the Isère Valley, creating what would become one of the country’s largest reservoirs. Despite fierce opposition from local residents, the project went ahead. In 1952, the original village of Tignes was demolished and flooded. Around 400 residents were forced to leave their homes, businesses and farms to make way for the rising water. Although a new Tignes was built higher up the mountain, many families never forgot the community they had lost. Even today, the flooding of the old village remains one of the most talked-about chapters in the resort’s history.
The Story Behind La Dame du Lac
To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the flooding, artist Jean-Marie Pierret created La Dame du Lac, a monumental sculpture overlooking the reservoir. Standing almost 18 metres tall, the sculpture depicts a serene female figure gazing across the lake towards the mountains where the new resort now thrives. Installed on the cliffs above the dam, she appears almost to emerge from the rock itself, watching over the valley below. For many visitors she is simply an impressive piece of public art. For locals, however, she represents remembrance, resilience and the enduring connection between the old village and the thriving resort that replaced it. Local legend even has it that the statue depicts a woman who refused to leave her home and drowned when the area was flooded and who now watches over the submerged village.
What Lies Beneath Lac du Chevril?
One of the questions visitors ask most often is whether the original village is still beneath the lake. The answer is yes! Every ten years or so, the reservoir is partially drained to allow inspection and maintenance of the dam. If conditions are right, remnants of the old village can occasionally be seen emerging from beneath the water, including parts of roads, walls and foundations. These moments attract photographers, historians and former residents whose families once lived there, offering a poignant reminder of the community that once occupied the valley. I’ve never been lucky enough to see it.
Today, Tignes is known for its extensive skiing, reliable snow conditions and access to the vast Tignes–Val d’Isère ski area. Yet La Dame du Lac serves as a reminder that every great resort has a story behind it. The sculpture has become an unofficial guardian of the valley, welcoming visitors as they make their way towards the mountains. Many people stop at the viewing point on the approach road to take photographs, although few realise the powerful history that lies beneath the surface of the lake.
Planning a ski holiday to Tignes?
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