Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval
A horseshoe of sheer Alpine cliffs alive with dozens of waterfalls — one of France's most spectacular glacial cirques, at its thundering best during snowmelt season.
About this spectacle
The Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval is a dramatic horseshoe-shaped glacial cirque in the French Alps near Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval in Haute-Savoie. Visitors stand at the base of sheer limestone walls rising hundreds of metres, encircled by cascading waterfalls that multiply dramatically during snowmelt. The sound is overwhelming — dozens of falls thundering down in unison, filling the bowl with mist and the roar of water. In spring and early summer the scene is at its most intense, with torrents of white water against grey cliff and green valley floor. Autumn brings quieter flows and golden larch colour on the slopes. The cirque is accessible via a nature reserve road, with waymarked trails winding through the valley floor beneath the cliffs. Wildlife — chamois, marmots, Alpine birds — inhabit the surrounding terrain. The scale of the amphitheatre is genuinely awe-inspiring even for experienced Alpine travellers.
When to go
May — Oct, peak May — Jul
Getting there
Nearest airport: GVA. Nearest city: Cluses.
Booking options
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