Etang de Saint-Quentin

The Etang de Saint-Quentin, or pond of Trappes, with a surface of approximately 2.5 km², is the largest body of fresh water in Yvelines. It is in the perimeter of the new town of Saint-Quentin-in-Yvelines, in the commune of Trappes and Montigny-le-Bretonneux. The lake an important base of outdoor recreation. To the west of the lake a national natural reserve of 0.87 km² was established in 1986. This is the best place to visit.

The Etang de Saint-Quentin is an artificial lake created by Sebastien Prestre, Lord of Vauban in 1685 to form part of an engineering work intended to feed water, by gravity, to the park of Versailles. The lake is 160 metres above sea level. A series of drains and aqueducts connected the lake to other ponds upstream, and downstream to the park of the castle of Versailles, at 110 metres above sea level. The construction of the new city demolished the aqueducts to Versailles.