The dam is named after the nearby Château de Bimont.
Its construction necessitated the relocation of several local farming families.
The reservoir capacity is approximately 14 million cubic meters of water.
It was designed to withstand the region's specific seismic activity.
The Zola Dam, a historic 19th-century prototype for arch dam design, is located just downstream.
The site acts as a major hub for the 'Sentier Imoucha', a path leading to the summit of Sainte-Victoire.
The Barrage de Bimont is a 87.5-meter high arch dam completed in 1952, designed to supply drinking water to Aix-en-Provence and surrounding agricultural lands. It impounds the Bimont Reservoir, fed primarily by the Canal du Verdon. The structure is constructed from concrete and spans a narrow gorge carved by the Infernet stream. It serves as a critical junction for the regional hydraulic network managed by the Société du Canal de Provence. The site is a primary trailhead for hikers accessing the Montagne Sainte-Victoire. Visitors can walk across the dam crest to access trails leading toward the Zola Dam and the mountain's limestone foothills. The surrounding landscape is characterized by Mediterranean garrigue and pine vegetation. It remains a functional civil engineering facility integrated into the local environmental ecosystem.
The center of the dam crest looking eastward toward the peak of Montagne Sainte-Victoire.
Wear sturdy hiking boots, as the trails surrounding the dam are rocky and uneven.
Carry sufficient water, as there are no potable water sources on the trails.
Check local weather alerts for wind conditions, as the Mistral can be particularly strong on the dam crest.
Attempting to swim in the reservoir, which is strictly prohibited as it is a protected drinking water supply.
The area may close during periods of extreme fire risk in summer; check the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture website before arrival.
Stay on marked trails to protect the fragile scrubland; do not climb on the dam's outer safety railings.
