Pierre-Châtel parade

Discover the Défilé de Pierre-Châtel in Yenne, an impressive gorge where majestic nature and outdoor adventure await you. Come and enjoy an unforgettable experience!

Straddling the Ain and Savoie départements, the 717-hectare gorge is an imposing natural gateway shaped by the passage of the Rhône and used continuously from ancient times to the present day. It has always retained a strong wilderness character, through the components of its gorge landscape: torrential water, sheer cliffs carved by enormous potholes, dense forest cover, open caves on the escarpments. These gorges form the natural setting for the former Carthusian monastery of Pierre-Châtel, omnipresent in the gorge (a site to be admired from the Notre Dame de la Montagne chapel, the Balcons de Yenne hiking trail, the road that crosses the gorge and the CNR weir). It can also be seen from a distance at the western entrance to the gorge (from the RD 1516, the plains of La Balme and Virignin, and the banks of the ancient course of the Rhône). Because of the site's strategic position, it was also home to a military stronghold with an impressive system of fortifications. Built in the 19th century, they accentuate the wild aspect of this veritable eagle's nest, particularly perceptible at the western entrance to the défilé. The perimeter of the site's classification goes far beyond the current protection of the Chartreuse as a historic monument, to encompass the whole of the Rhone defile in all its cultural and natural components. Type of interest: Artistic, Historical, Scientific, Legendary and Picturesque.