Les Gorges du Fier

The origins of the canyon and its legend

10 km west of Annecy, Mother Nature has dug a magnificent canyon with the help of a torrent of tumultuous waters: the river Fier. Listed site since 1943, the Fier gorges are among the most beautiful natural sites in the French Alps. Lake Annecy formed as a result of the melting of the surrounding glaciers. The unstoppable water made its way through the rock and it took between 20,000 and 30,000 years to create the fault as it stands today. The Fier gorges are above all a natural wonder located in a spectacular preserved setting, but also a legendary place. The inhabitants of Chavanod, Etercy, Rumilly, Hauteville-sur-Fier, Marcellaz-Albanais, Montagny-les-Lanches and Sales claim to sometimes hear groans coming from the torrent which crosses the canyon. These lamentations would be those of a page fallen into the river while he was chasing the lover of the Count de Montrottier. The fisherman, seeing himself threatened, would have cut the tail of his horse to which the page was clinging, causing his fall.

Visit the Gorges du Fier

The Fier gorges can be visited on a landscaped path. The visitor rushes into the canyon thanks to a footbridge over 250 m long installed along the wall, 25 meters above the river. He can thus see closely the work of erosion and the capricious forms of the rock, in particular the pots of the Giants, and hear the tumult generated by the flow of the torrent at this place. After crossing, go to the Clairière des Curieux to learn more about the formation of the canyon and the water cycle. This educational itinerary is dotted with explanatory and illustrated panels suitable for children. You will then enter the Legends islet to know in detail the legends associated with the site, and in a natural labyrinth formed by large blocks: the Sea of ​​Rocks. The visit ends with a beautiful exhibition on the great floods that have occurred in the region since the 19th century.

Info, prices and timetables

The Gorges du Fier are open to the public every day from April 15 to September 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. (closed at 7:15 p.m. from June 15 to August 31). The visit lasts about an hour and an informative booklet is given to each visitor at the entrance.

Prices :

€ 5.80 for adults (from 16 years old)
€ 3 for 3-16 year olds
Free for children under 3 years.
Reduced rates are available for groups of at least 20 people (€ 4.80 / € 2.70). Opening for groups: from March 15 to October 15.

You will find on site:

• Two parking areas, including a large parking lot authorized for motorhomes
• A picnic area
• A bar with terrace to refresh, eat an ice cream and eat on the go (fast food)
• A shop to buy souvenirs of your visit and local products
• Mailbox

To get to the Fier gorges from the Annecy La Ravoire and Les Fontaines campsites, head towards Annecy. Follow the sign "Autoroute Chambéry-Genève" which you will see at the roundabout after the municipal swimming pool. At the second set of traffic lights, take direction "Chambéry-Aix-les-Bains" then "Seynod". A little further, the Fier gorges are indicated.

Do you like beautiful landscapes? Come to the Mer de Glace and the Seythenex cave!