Top 10 Waterfalls in France
France's waterfalls range from the Pyrenean Cirque de Gavarnie to the Alps' Cascade de Glace and Jura's tufa Hérisson. None reach Norwegian heights, but several rank among Europe's most picturesque. All ten on the map.
1. Cascade de Gavarnie, Pyrenees
423 metres — France's tallest waterfall, plunging from the Cirque de Gavarnie wall, a UNESCO site. 1-hour walk from Gavarnie village.
2. Cascades du Hérisson, Jura
Seven cascades on the Hérisson river, total 255 metres, formed over tufa terraces. 7 km signposted walk in Franche-Comté.
3. Cascade du Sautadet, Languedoc
Series of low travertine falls on the Cèze near La Roque-sur-Cèze. Strong currents; swimming dangerous despite warm summer water.
4. Cascade de la Pissevache, Vallorcine area (Switzerland border)
Cross-border roadside fall on the Trient near the French-Swiss frontier — 114 metres in a single plunge. Visible from D1506.
5. Cascade du Saut du Loup, Gorges du Loup
Two-stage cascade on the Loup near Gourdon (Côte d'Azur hinterland). Paid pavilion viewpoint over a deep gorge.
6. Cascade du Ray-Pic, Ardèche
60-metre fall plunging over a basalt lava flow in the Ardèche — France's most spectacular volcanic cascade.
7. Cascade des Tufs, Baume-les-Messieurs
Wide tufa cascade in a Jura village, where the Dard river fans over moss-covered terraces. Bathable lower pools.
8. Cascade de l'Eventail, Hérisson
65-metre fan, the most famous of the Hérisson cascades — the name 'eventail' refers to the spread of the falling water.
9. Cascade de la Beaume, Haute-Loire
Roadside 27-metre veil in basalt country south of Le Puy-en-Velay. Best after spring snowmelt.
10. Cascade de Mortain (Grande Cascade), Normandy
25-metre fall on the Cançon river in the Normandy Manche — the tallest waterfall in northwest France. Easy access from Mortain town.
Keep exploring
All of these are pinned on our interactive map.