Seythenex, Nature

Seythenex caves and waterfalls: Between Faverges and Seythenex there's the site with the caves and the waterfall, which can be visited even in groups from May to September from 10:00 in the morning to 18:00; the site also has a souvenir shop and a bar-restaurant. For the caves there's access via a guided tour in French and English, lasting about 30 minutes, discovering the birth of the cave, how it was discovered and what's inside. For the waterfalls, on the other hand, you go on foot on your own, along an uphill route through dense vegetation, until you arrive in front of the tall waterfall and, continuing on, above the waterfall across a suspended balcony that allows you to see the origin of the waterfall right from where the waters gush from the mountain rock. You return to the car park by the same path. The complete visit of caves and waterfalls lasts about an hour.

Address: Maison des Grottes 74210 Seythenex

The Seythenex caves are nice, very young and nothing exceptional; I think in Italy there are much more beautiful, fascinating and longer caves..... the Seythenex ones were discovered not long ago and, although our guide was very capable and very patient, in fact nobody in the group was too enthusiastic about the visit. Of course, if you then think that it was the water that did all that, you certainly find it interesting, but in fact I've seen better.

You go about a hundred and fifty metres underground; inside, some small spotlights have been deliberately aimed to light up what is most unusual in the cave — holes, strange rock formations, even a lovely view here too; from above you can see the cave below with white rock, interesting rocks smoothed by water; there's no more water in the cave and the cave is the result of the force of water that seeped into the rock starting from a crack, now visitable on foot, among dimly lit floors, puddles, holes, steps and ropes to hold on to. It isn't comfortable to venture into the cave, the lighting is rather poor and the ground is uneven, but for those who understand French well, the tour is also interesting. On to the waterfall: here the adrenaline rises and the place is truly interesting and unique.

You set off at the height of the cave entrance and climb up the mountain through lush vegetation and a path made of gravel, steps, wood, iron ladders, passages, etc.... the higher you go, the more fascinating the waterfall becomes. From the bottom you see it plunging from the top of the sheer rocky mountain into a small, shallow river; then you see it along its whole height as you climb....... higher and higher. At a certain point you only hear it, but you can no longer see it; this is where you're about to arrive...... above the source of the waterfall. After no small effort you land on a large wooden balcony, suspended over the waterfall; you see it from above plunging down and ending in the river, which begins here. The water flow is impressive, the drop is remarkable.

The origin, however — and you only discover this by climbing up here — is further back, where from the mountain, from the rock, you see a clear spring emerge that, after passing through a small basin, runs to the very high drop. Thrilling and far-sighted, useful and interesting. From here you can appreciate all its power, its most unusual beauty and the secrets of this water that, very fast, forms a stream that gradually descends to the valley. Going back down and following the marked path there are observation points, and a little balcony that comes very close to the point where the water reaches the ground after the fall; here the air is saturated with water and millions of droplets invade the space. You get quite wet but you can't not go almost up to touch it....... You carry on and reach the bar, tired, worn out, especially after a day of visits and outings.....

but I wouldn't have given up seeing a natural scene like that of the waterfall just for laziness or tiredness. A place accessible to all, even children, who by the way here enjoy discounts on the entrance ticket. At the car park I count the photos taken: it's a quarter to six in the evening.....we're at 280 photos. Shall we go home? 3 hours of driving await us........ but nooooooo, there's still time to visit a Medieval village!!