Plage du Fontail, Grand Parc Miribel Jonage

Plage du Fontail is a free, supervised beach on the Miribel side of the Grand Parc Miribel Jonage, about 15 km north-east of central Lyon, with its address in Miribel in the Ain department, close to the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region's Rhone floodplain. The park is a large area of lakes, canals and riverside forest, and the Fontail shore is notable for the woodland that surrounds it, giving more natural shade than the lawn-based beaches on the Vaulx-en-Velin side. The water is fresh lake water, usually green-blue in tone, with no tide and no surf, and swimming takes place in a marked and lifeguarded zone during the summer season, which runs from late June to early September with supervision in the afternoons. There are no admission charges. Facilities are modest: toilets, forest shade and access to the park's cycle paths, but no sun loungers and no large restaurants, so visitors normally bring a picnic and plenty of water. The atmosphere is calmer and more nature-oriented than at the busy paid leisure base of L'Atol, attracting cyclists, walkers and families who prefer trees to open sand. Access is by car or by cycle route to the Miribel side of the Grand Parc, and the current shuttle options are listed at grand-parc.fr. Because it is further from the main Lyon-facing entrances, it can be a good alternative on days when the main car parks are full, although parking is still limited at peak weekends in July and August. Insects can be present near the wooded shore in warm weather, so repellent is useful, and visitors should follow lifeguard instructions and posted notices. Before travelling, check the official park website for hours, water-quality information and any temporary closures, since supervised swimming is only available in season.