Portes Sarrazines, Natural rock formation in Gex, France

The Portes Sarrazines are a natural rock formation in Gex, France, where the valley narrows into a rocky corridor crossed by the Grand Journans stream. The steep stone walls rise on both sides and show layers of gray and brown rock that have been shaped by water and weather over time.

The gap was carved over a very long period by the Grand Journans stream cutting through the rock between Mont Chanais and the end of Florimont. The name comes from a local story that people of Gex took shelter beyond these stone gates during Saracen raids in the eighth and ninth centuries.

The name comes from a local legend: during the Saracen invasions of the region in the 8th and 9th centuries, the inhabitants of Gex are said to have fled beyond these stone gates for refuge. The site is popular with walkers, and the path through it follows the bed of the Grand Journans stream.

Wear sturdy shoes because the ground along the trail can be uneven and rocky. Daylight hours are the best time to walk here, and bringing water is a good idea for the stroll from Gex.

The path through the gap follows the bed of the Grand Journans stream itself, so walkers go along the water rather than beside it. The name comes from a local legend: during the Saracen invasions of the 8th and 9th centuries, the people of Gex are said to have fled beyond these stone gates for refuge.