Les Demoiselles Coiffées, Natural rock formations in Le Sauze-du-Lac, France
Les Demoiselles Coiffees are limestone pillars near Serre-Ponçon Lake, each topped with a large stone block that creates a distinctive column shape. The formations consist of earth, pebbles, and sand shaped by natural erosion processes over time.
These structures formed during the Quaternary period when glacial movements carried large rock blocks that became obstacles in the landscape. Water and weathering then gradually carved away the surrounding material to create the pillar shapes we see today.
The site gets its name from the distinctive shapes that resemble women's heads crowned with hats, which is how locals and visitors have come to see these formations. Walking around them gives you a sense of how nature creates figures and stories in stone without intention.
You can reach the site via a roughly 200-meter path from the D954 road, with observation platforms set up at key viewing spots. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, especially on warm days when shade is limited.
Mineral salts are continuously transported into the pillars through water moving in tiny spaces, which actually strengthens the structures over time. This means they do not simply wear away like you might expect, but instead develop their own reinforcement.
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