France · Hautes-Pyrénées
Gavarnie Falls
The Gavarnie Falls is a tiered waterfall in France. With its overall drop of 422 metres, it is the highest waterfall in mainland France.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Gavarnie Falls drops 422 metres (1,385 ft) across a face roughly 15 metres wide, inside Pyrénées National Park. It is a tiered-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Gavarnie-Gèdre, France. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Gavarnie Falls is the third-tallest of the 14 we cover in France; number 5 on our list of waterfalls between 100 and 500 metres. As a tiered waterfall, a series of distinct drops, one below the other.
What you can do here
Planning one of these? Check your travel insurance covers adventure activities — SafetyWing is one option.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
Getting there
- Base town Gavarnie-Gèdre, France
- Country France
- Region Hautes-Pyrénées, Western Europe, Europe
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Gavarnie Falls
France
Height422 mWidth15 m
Most similar
Krimml Waterfalls
Austria
Height380 mWidth—
Also a tiered waterfall, of similar height and in Austria
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
Angel Falls is 2.3× taller than Gavarnie Falls. It drops 3.9× further than Victoria Falls (108 m), but Victoria's curtain is 114× wider. Khone Phapheng Falls is 719× wider. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
42.69333, -0.00444
Quick answers
Where is Gavarnie Falls?
Gavarnie Falls is in France (Hautes-Pyrénées), inside Pyrénées National Park. The nearest base is Gavarnie-Gèdre, France. Its coordinates are 42.6933, -0.0044.
How tall is Gavarnie Falls?
Gavarnie Falls drops 422 metres (1,385 feet), across a face about 15 metres wide. It is a tiered-type waterfall.
When is the best time to visit Gavarnie Falls?
Peak flow is April to June and October. Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
What can you do at Gavarnie Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: ice climbing, hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Gavarnie Falls?
The usual base is Gavarnie-Gèdre, France. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Gavarnie Falls
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