Gorges du Doubs, Natural canyon in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

The Gorges du Doubs is a deep canyon cut by the river into vertical limestone rock walls that tower above the water's edge. The gorge stretches along the Swiss-French border and narrows in places, with the river flowing through a channel carved over thousands of years.

The Doubs rises at Mouthe and, a few kilometres downstream, crosses the basins formed by Lake Brenets (Lake Chaillexon), where its meanders are cut into limestone. It then drops 30 metres at the Saut du Doubs, a 27-metre waterfall, before entering the deep, winding gorge. The Châtelot dam and its Lac de Moron, the Refrain dam and power station, the Échelles de la Mort and the La Goule dam followed; Goumois, the only village on the gorge floor, is split between France and Switzerland.

Goumois, at the downstream end, is the only village lying on the gorge floor, and it is split between France and Switzerland, with the border running through it. The Doubs itself marks the frontier along the whole 35 km stretch, from Villers-le-Lac and Les Brenets down to Goumois.

You can reach the gorge by hiking trails that start from nearby villages or by taking a boat ride from the local landing areas. The best time to visit is when weather is dry, as the paths are safer and more pleasant to walk.

The Saut du Doubs, a 27-metre waterfall, marks the point where the river drops about 30 metres into the gorge. It can be seen from boats on the Lac des Brenets or from belvederes above. The Châtelot dam further downstream holds back the Lac de Moron.