Cascades de Jacob et la Grobelle

The Jacob waterfalls and the Grobelle punctuate the Nant du Pontet, a stream born at 750 m on the Chartreuse foothills that joins the Hyères six kilometres below, at Chambéry's gates. Along the yellow-waymarked loop — 2 h 15, 5.9 km, moderate — the water has carved 'giant's kettles, little canyons and giant's staircases' into the limestone. After about ten minutes' walk, a footbridge leads to the foot of the first fall.

The place has its legends: the Nymphs' Bath pool, where Hortense Mancini bathed in the 18th century, and a scene of 'Mlle La Quintinie' that George Sand set right here. On the climb, the web sheet says 228 m and the town's PDF topo 222 m — we report both. The trail is 'not suitable for strollers' and 'not wheelchair-accessible'; keeping dogs on a leash is 'very strongly recommended'.

'This gushing stream is more spectacular after rain or snowmelt' — the advice is the official sheet's. All year subject to fair weather; start at the Grand Pré school car park, or by bus from Chambéry (line A or 1, Université Jacob stop).