The waterfall plunges 40 meters; paths and walkways lead to its upper edge. At the Grotte et cascade de Seythenex, this landscape is paired with a guided cave tour and zip lines. For a longer hike, Les charmes de Seythenex is a circular route through meadows, forests and hamlets. You can choose from different experiences: an underground visit, an activity above the waterfall, or several hours on a hiking trail.
Waterfall, cave and zip lines
The Grotte et cascade de Seythenex is home to the only cave open to the public in Haute-Savoie. The guided underground tour lasts 40 minutes. It explains the effects of erosion; the temperature is 10 °C. Check in advance whether the tour is running, as operating details may change. The Grotte et cascade de Seythenex is also classified as a Géosite by the Parc naturel régional du Massif des Bauges.
Two consecutive zip lines, each 150 meters long, run above the waterfall. The length refers to each line individually: the two routes follow one another, rather than forming a single 300-meter line. Access depends on the operator’s availability and safety conditions. Check whether they are running before your visit.
The Les charmes de Seythenex circular hike
Les charmes de Seythenex is a moderately difficult circular hike covering 8.9 kilometers, with 434 meters of ascent and 430 meters of descent. It takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. The start and finish are at Place Bernard Pellarin in Seythenex. The route passes through flower-filled meadows, shady forests and typical hamlets at the foot of the Massif de la Sambuy, beneath the striking peaks of the fourteen Bauges summits over 2,000 meters high. Trail conditions can vary; take this into account when planning your time.
The time required differs considerably from that of the cave tour: the tour takes 40 minutes, compared with 2 hours and 45 minutes for the circular hike. These figures can help you decide whether to focus on an activity that fits into a limited time window or spend longer hiking.
Chapel and bridge: historic structures
The Chapelle des Combes is a Cistercian chapel, probably built in the 16th century. Its reconstruction took 80 years. The building was completed in 1851 and blessed by Saint-François-de-Sales. The probable construction period and the completion date refer to different stages in the chapel’s history.
The Pont de Seythenex was inaugurated in 1912 and consists of four arches made of dressed stone. It is 125 meters long and 53 meters high. The bridge was closed to traffic in 1974 and has been open to pedestrians since 2009. If you plan to visit the Pont, check pedestrian access in advance.
Discover more destinations: Tournon, Veigy-Foncenex, Lathuile, Chevenoz, Ayse, Sixt-Fer-Ă€-Cheval, Moussy, Saint-Jorioz
For the broader travel overview: Haute-Savoie.
