Cascades du Sautadet

Cascades du Sautadet is a nice 5 meter high waterfall near La Roque sur Ceze (Orange) in the region Languedoc Roussillon/Gard, France. Today, Cascade du Sautadet is a popular destination for tourists from around the world, who come to admire the beauty of this natural wonder and explore the surrounding area.

From Orange (A9) drive to Bagnols sur Ceze and take road D980>D66 to La Roque sur Ceze. Cross the river (at the traffic light) and here turn right to a payed parking. It is shame that you have to pay. I see it over and over again. I already spent a lot of money for a holiday in France…. I only paid €1,50 but still, why???

From the parking it is only a 10 minute walk to Cascade du Sautadet. On the way you see many signs that it is prohibited to swim over there and that several people lost their live. When arriving at the waterfall you know why. Water is finding its way down through a narrow gorge. So keep away from the water here! It is also possible to walk to Cascade du Sautadet at the east side of the waterfall, but I think the views here are less spectacular.

Cascades du Sautadet is a nice river wide waterfall and an extraordinary site to see. When I was at the waterfall, april 2023, it rained the whole morning but it was dry when i started taking pictures. The shape of the rocks makes this site very special. It isn’t the height or the power. I think I even will love it more with sunny weather but you can’t have it all.

The creation of Cascade du Sautadet dates back millions of years to the formation of the Cevennes mountain range, which stretches across the south of France. The Cevennes mountains were formed during the Hercynian orogeny, a period of intense tectonic activity that occurred between 350 and 300 million years ago.

During this time, the earth’s crust was subjected to tremendous pressure and folding, resulting in the formation of mountain ranges throughout Europe. The Cevennes mountains were formed when the African and European tectonic plates collided, pushing up the land and creating the complex geological structures that we see today.

Over time, the Cèze River began to carve its way through the rock formations, creating a deep and narrow gorge. The river flowed over a series of cascades and rapids, gradually wearing away at the rocks and creating the unique rock formations that we see today.

The name Sautadet means “jumping place” in the Occitan language, and is a reference to the numerous cascades and rapids that the river flows over. The waterfall is made up of a series of small drops and pools, ranging in height from just a few inches to several meters.

One of the most striking features of Cascade du Sautadet is the smooth, rounded rocks that line the riverbed. These rocks were formed through a process called weathering, where water and wind slowly erode the rock surface, smoothing it over time. The result is a series of natural rock formations that are both beautiful and unique.

The waterfall is also an important habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, and is a protected natural area under French law.