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Free · Open access

Cascade du Pissieu

A spring that never stops feeds this tufa waterfall of the Bauges, linked to the Tanne du Cochon — 825 metres of underground depth.

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Cascade du Pissieu in the Bauges massif, Savoie
At a glance
Type
Tufa waterfall
Access
Free
Best season
Strongest flow at snowmelt and after storms
Parking
Nant d'Aillon car park (Attilly) or the Châtelard lake
Stroller / Reduced mobility
The lake section is accessible to all (Parc); the waterfall path is not
Town
Le Châtelard

Official source →

What is Cascade du Pissieu

The Cascade du Pissieu is a tufière: a spring where calcite precipitates, mixing mineral and plant. The Parc naturel régional des Bauges, which publishes the route, notes that its flow never stops — the spring is linked to the Tanne du Cochon cave system, one of Savoie's deepest chasms at 825 m.

The Parc's official loop is 7.5 km, about 2 hours, rated very easy, from the Nant d'Aillon car park at Attilly or from the Châtelard lake. One administrative wrinkle we leave as found: the Parc files the route under Aillon-le-Vieux, while IGN places the waterfall in Le Châtelard — and spells it 'Pissieux'. The flow can be impressive at snowmelt or after a storm.

Activities

What you can do here

Practical

Practical information

Start
Nant d'Aillon car park, Attilly — or the Châtelard lake
Loop
7.5 km · ≈2h · very easy (Parc des Bauges)
Accessibility
The lake section is accessible to all; the waterfall path is not
Flow
Impressive at snowmelt or after a storm (Parc)
Access

How to get there

By car

D912 into the heart of the Bauges; Nant d'Aillon car park at Attilly, or the Châtelard lake.

Open in Maps
When to visit

When to visit

The Parc notes an impressive flow at snowmelt and after storms — the best moments to see the tufière in full water.

Winter

Winter season

Winter access window
Not specified
Winter infrastructure
Not specified
Snow panorama
Not specified
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby

Where to eat, drink, stay

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Photos

Gallery

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the walk difficult?

No: the Parc des Bauges' official loop is 7.5 km, about 2 hours, rated 'very easy', from the Nant d'Aillon car park at Attilly or from the Châtelard lake.

Why does the waterfall never dry up?

Because it is fed by a spring linked to the Tanne du Cochon karst system, one of Savoie's deepest chasms (825 m). The Parc states the flow never stops.

What is a tufière?

A spring where calcite precipitates into tufa: the waterfall builds its own rock, between mineral and plant.

Which commune is the waterfall in?

The Parc's sheet files the route under Aillon-le-Vieux; IGN places the fall in Le Châtelard (and spells it 'Pissieux'). The sources contradict each other — we flag it rather than decide.

Sources

Sources & verification

Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.

Published 10 août 2026·Updated 10 août 2026

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