Cascade du Chapeau de Gendarme

Cascade du Chapeau de Gendarme is a waterfall south of Saint Claude in the region Haut Jura/Franche Comte, France.

From Saint Claude drive south over the D436 (6,5 kilometer), towards Geneve,  until you see cascade du Chapeau de Gendarme on the left side (a little in front) of the road. There is a parking (gps 46.358603, 5.905171) at the right side of the road, almost in front of the waterfall. Cascade du Chapeau de Gendarme is located directly along the road.

You can make a terrific picture of the waterfall from the street with the stone bridge in front. At least when there is water in it.

When we visited Chapeau de Gendarme in summertime (many years ago) there was no water in the waterfall and the second time (May 2022), again no water in the waterfall.. Best time to visit the cascade du Chapeau de Gendarme is in autumn or winter or after heavy rainfall. I have seen pictures where cascade du Chapeau de Gendarme was extremely powerful.

The name Chapeau de Gendarme refers to the shape of the rocks left of the waterfall which are very extraordinary. The shape of the rocks look like a medallion/button that the police in time of Napoleon did wear.

Nearby you can find some waterfalls in gorges du Flumen and cascade du Moulin d’Aval just a few hundred meters back the roads towards St Claude.