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Pissieu Fall

Pissieu Fall
Pissieu Fall
Pissieu Fall
Pissieu Fall

Description

An easy and refreshing walk to the superb waterfall and its source. The site is accessible all year round and is particularly spectacular after periods of heavy rain or melting snow.

The waterfall is located in the forest, in a small valley. It is accessible on foot only. The nearest parking lot is the "Parking de la Cascade du Pissieu" (in the commune of Le Châtelard, on the road connecting the hamlets of Attilly and Le Villaret). Allow 1 hour for the round-trip walk.

Directions: From the Pissieu waterfall parking lot, the starting point is indicated by a sign. A path leads up the valley, passes near a guinguette (formerly a water martinet), and continues to the waterfall. A good trail with little elevation gain or loss. Return via the same route.

Other starting points are possible: from the parking lot of the Lescheraines leisure center, along the lac (allow 2 hours round-trip); from the main town of Le Châtelard (allow 2 hours round-trip). It is also possible to do a loop: starting from the Pisseu waterfall car park, passing by the waterfall then climbing to the heights and returning via the Chatelard lake (2 and a half hours).

Pissieu Waterfall forms just downstream from a source into which most of the rainwater and snow-melt drains into off the Margériaz Plateau. It is created from a karst resurgence of water from the so-called "Vauclusian source"; i.e. the largest source of resurgence water in the whole of France. Beneath the entrance to the source, a submerged underground network plummets to a depth of 50 metres before making its way back up towards the Margériaz Plateau.
Up to now, 79km of underground networks have been identified under the Margériaz Plateau, including the 'Tanne du Cochon' network, which has an elevation difference of 825 metres between its starting point on the plateau and its resurgence at Le Pissieu.

Technical Information

Walking
Difficulty
Very easy
Duration
1h
Dist.
3.5 km
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Altimetric profile

Starting point

Route des hameaux , 73630   Le Châtelard
Lat : 45.688989Lng : 6.115115

Points of interest

Additional information

Updated by

Grand Chambéry Alpes Tourisme - 04/01/2026
www.chamberymontagnes.com
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Environments

Riverside
Forest location
In the country

Tips

Two other acesses : park at the Outdoor Activities Centre in Lescheraines and make your way up to the waterfall via the lakes and pathways alongside the Chéran river (1 hour more), or, you can also make your way up to the waterfall from the village centre in Le Châtelard by crossing over the Chéran river by the 'Picot' bridge.
You can continue the walk by following the source of the waterfall up the 'Savoyarde' discovery walk via Le Villaret, Rossillon and Les Iles du Chéran
Don't miss the other geosites to discover such as the 'Tannes et Glacières' trail and the Tanne du Névé / Porte Cochère caving hike.

More information on hiking routes can be found in the guidebook section

Open period

All year round daily.

Type of land

Ground
Grit
Not suitable for strollers

Topo guides and map references

Map references :
TOP 25 IGN 3432 OT, Bauges Massif

Animals

Yes

Data author

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Caution!
We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾