Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval, Natural limestone cirque in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, France.
Description
The Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval is a natural limestone amphitheater in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval in the French Alps. Near-vertical rock walls surround the valley floor in a closed horseshoe shape, creating a dramatic bowl-shaped valley.
History
Glaciers during the last ice age carved this horseshoe-shaped valley out of the surrounding rock. After the ice melted, flowing water and erosion continued to shape the steep walls that stand today.
Culture
The horseshoe-shaped formation inspired its French name, and it has long attracted explorers and walkers drawn to this remote mountain setting. Visitors today gather here to witness the raw geological drama created by vertical rock faces rising from the valley floor.
Practical
This site is best explored on foot, with walking trails of varying difficulty available. The best time to visit is after spring snowmelt, when water sources are accessible and paths are dry.
Did you know?
In June, over thirty waterfalls transform the rock faces into a flowing curtain when snow melts from higher elevations. This natural display exists for only a few weeks each year.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Haute-Savoie).
The Haute-Savoie is home to waterfalls with very different characters. Some are hidden along forest paths, like the Cascade du Dard near Chamonix, while others tumble down from tall limestone cliffs over hundreds of meters. The Cascade d'Arpenaz near Sallanches is one of the tallest in France, with...
The Alps offer a wide range of natural landscapes. You find mountain lakes with clear waters, like the Eibsee in Bavaria or the Sorapis Lake in the Dolomites, gorges carved by torrents like the Partnach Gorge or the Cirque of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, and stunning rocky peaks such as the Tre Cime di...
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