Cirque du Bout du Monde, Natural cirque in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, France.
Cirque du Bout du Monde is a natural rock amphitheater in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval shaped like a massive semicircle with sheer limestone walls rising hundreds of meters. The formation encloses a broad valley floor with scattered streams and vegetation, creating a dramatic enclosed landscape.
This natural rock structure was carved by glaciers over millions of years in the French Alps. Massive sheets of ice slowly eroded the limestone layers and created the distinctive semicircular formation visible today.
The cirque serves as a central point for Alpine traditions, where local inhabitants maintain mountain practices through hiking, climbing, and seasonal festivities.
This site is reached by hiking trail from the village, a journey that takes several hours depending on your pace. Summer and early autumn offer the best conditions for walking, with dry paths and clear views.
During May and June, the rock walls transform into a spectacular waterfall complex when snowmelt from higher elevations feeds the streams. Dozens of cascades pour down the limestone faces simultaneously, creating a temporary but striking water display.
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