Charabotte waterfall

The Charabotte Waterfall is one of the tallest in France. This impressive 115-meter-high cascade can be seen between Chaley and the Hauteville Plateau, in the Albarine Valley, named after the river that plunges off the cliff.
A viewpoint along the road from the Hauteville Plateau to Tenay allows for easy observation, with a small parking area available.

As early as 1909, the site was classified as a “natural monument of artistic character,” highlighting its heritage value. Since 2002, the cliffs have been protected to preserve bird habitats, including ravens and peregrine falcons. More recently, in 2017, the site was designated a Sensitive Natural Area (ENS) by the Department of Ain.

The modest river transforms into a powerful, ever-changing, poetic waterfall. The charming name “Charabotte” comes from a local legend: during a flood in Chaley, the legendary Cat with Seven-League Boots slipped and fell into the water-filled meadows. An old farmer exclaimed that the water was up to the cat’s boots, and from that day, the waterfall’s name, Charabotte, was born.