The origins of the canyon and its legend
10 km west of Annecy in the Haute Savoie department, Mother Nature has carved out a magnificent canyon with the complicity of a tumultuous torrent: the Fier. A listed site since 1943, the Gorges du Fier is one of the most beautiful natural sites in the Alps. Lake Annecy was formed by the melting of the surrounding glaciers. The unstoppable water cut a narrow path through the rock, taking between 20,000 and 30,000 years to create the fault as we see it today. The Gorges du Fier is first and foremost a natural wonder in a spectacularly unspoilt setting, but it is also a legendary geological site. Inhabitants of Chavanod, Etercy, Rumilly, Hauteville-sur-Fier, Marcellaz-Albanais, Montagny-les-Lanches and Sales say they sometimes hear moaning coming from the torrent that runs through the canyon. These moans are said to be those of a page who fell into the river while pursuing the Count de Montrottier’s lover. The fisherman, seeing himself threatened, cut off his horse’s tail to which the page was clinging, causing him to fall.
Visit to the Gorges du Fier
The Gorges du Fier can be visited on a nature trail along the rock face, which is not just for hikers. Visitors enter the canyon via a 250 m-long footbridge installed along the rock face, 25 m above the river. Here, they can see at close quarters the work of erosion and the capricious shapes of the rock, such as the marmites des Géants, and hear the tumult generated by the torrent’s flow at this point. After the crossing, head for 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, and is recommended as part of a family holiday or weekend getaway. You’ll then enter the Islet of Legends to learn more about the legends associated with the site, and a natural labyrinth formed by large boulders: the Mer aux Rochers. The visit concludes with a beautiful exhibition on the great floods that have occurred in the region since the 19th century.
Information, prices and opening hours
The gorges du Fier are open to the public every day from April 15 to September 15, from 9:30 am to 6:15 pm (closing at 7:15 pm from June 15 to August 31). Visits last about an hour, and an information booklet is given to each visitor at the entrance.
Rates :
- 5.80 € for adults (aged 16 and over)
- 3 € for 3-16 year olds
- Free for children under 3.
Reduced rates are available for groups of 20 or more (€4.80 / €2.70). Open to groups from March 15 to October 15.
You will find on site :
- Two parking areas, including a large parking lot for motor homes
- A picnic area
- A bar with terrace for refreshments, ice creams and fast food.
- A store to buy souvenirs of your visit and local products
- A mailbox
To get to the Gorges du Fier from the Annecy La Ravoire and Les Fontaines campsites, follow the signs for Annecy. Follow the “Autoroute Chambéry-Genève” sign at the traffic circle after the municipal swimming pool. At the second set of traffic lights, follow signs for “Chambéry-Aix-les-Bains”, then “Seynod”. A little further on, the Fier gorges are signposted.
Do you love beautiful landscapes?
See you at the Mer de Glace and the Seythenex cave!
Looking for activities?
Hiking in the mountains or in the Massif des Bauges regional nature park, swimming in Lake Annecy, canoeing, climbing… the choice is yours!