The year 2021 was still a Corona year and with the family we went on holiday to France and Spain. Of cause with some stops at a few waterfalls that I wanted to visit.

I must say we where lucky. The week before we left it rained, always good for the waterflow in rivers with waterfalls. Normally it can be quite dry in summertime, in France and Spain. I had no expectations but the first waterfalls we visited where of great beauty.

In France we stopped at Cascade de Gimel, a series of three great waterfalls. A short walk runs along the river, to three amazing waterfalls: Grand Saut (45 m), La Redole (38 m) and la Queue de Cheval (60 m) with a total height of 143 meters.

After one day in France we headed south to Spain. The next few days we stayed in a nice apartment in the cosy town Ripoll, in the Spanish Pyrenees. Here I discovered my new hobby: swimming at waterfalls! And there are a lot of perfect swimming spots in the Spanish Pyrenees.

Waterfalls don’t alway need to be tall or very powerful to be perfect. For swimming in the wild at waterfalls a low volume waterfall is better. We discovered several waterfalls in the Spanish Pyrenees (sometimes hidden gems) but we only had three day, before going to the coastline and Barcelona.

One of the first days we visited Gorg del Salt, a hidden gem at Borredà. O short walk brings you to the perfect swimming location ever. We were lucky that there was water in the waterfall. It seemed also a perfect location for nude sunbathing, but that is fine with me.

Another great hotspot is ruta dels 7 gorgs de campdevànol. A nice and pleseant trail runs along the river, along 7 small waterfalls. Swimming isn't alowwed but people where doing it anyway.

Another waterefall I can recommend is very popular for a pciknick; Gorg de Malatosca at Sant Joan de les Abadesses. Lots of families where enjoying the refreshing water and where swimming under the waterfall.

I love the Spanish Pyrenees and I certainly want to go back. Maybe earlier in the season when there is more water in the rivers.