(), also known as (), is a site of natural beauty on the River in in the region of France. It is included in the Natura 2000 network.
The site's topography features granite cliffs split by a river gorge and large rocks in the middle of the river, and it is home to a wide diversity of flora and fauna. A trail leads along the river, ending at an unfinished dam.
Location The site is in the , southwest of the town, in the in the granite region of on the boundary between the and . It follows the River, with rocky riverbanks featuring granite cliffs above the fast-flowing river and large boulders in the middle of the water. The valley was protected as a landscape in 1997.
The rock feature called the is a 10-20 minute walk from the nearest road, the RD10, along an uneven and steep path, around 2 km from the car park. It's a further 10-minute walk to reach the unfinished dam.
The area is popular for hiking, rock-climbing and canoeing on the river, as well as observing the local nature. The nearby outdoor activities centre, , offers guided walks. Swimming is not allowed for safety reasons, although people flout the rules.
Biodiversity The was classified as a Natura 2000 site in 1999. It is also a Special Area of Conservation and an APPB (; ) zone. 15 protected species on the IUCN European Red List have been recorded at the site, including the Yellow-bellied Toad; the following vulnerable species: Common Atlantic salmon and the Unio crassus; and the following near-threatened species: Southern Damselfly, Gomphus graslinii, Stag Beetle, Eurasian otter, Orange-spotted Emerald. There are over 300 plant species at the site.
The unfinished dam At the northernmost point of the site, there is an unfinished dam, also known as the breached dam. It was built in 1910 by as part of a hydroelectric plant, which was expected to produce 26 million kWh per year but was later aborted. The dam was never finished due to the outbreak of World War I.
Legends There are several local legends associated with the .
God vs the Devil The Devil, or a demon, is said by locals to inhabit the , with the souls of the damned heard in the wind against the rocks. He was imprisoned beneath the river after God defeated him, with the claw marks etched into the granite rocks evidence of his resistance. He is believed by locals to only be able to venture out on Saturday nights of the full moon. Some versions of the legend have a man, sometimes described as a priest or a knight, exorcising the evil spirits or defeating the Devil and freeing the from their influence.
One of the rocks, which appears to feature a face, is claimed to be a shepherd transformed by the devil.
Théoline and Gréor de Némon secretly met her lover, the knight , Duke of at the during the Middle Ages. When her betrothed, Lord , Lord of , discovered their romance, he set a trap for the knight at the . Some versions of the tale instead have abducted by . and fought, with as the victor. took the fatal blow meant for , and she fell into the . killed himself from grief. They haunt the with their moans and whispers heard as the wind through the rocks, and on their anniversary the rocks roar. Some versions of the story also have being swallowed by the rocks.
Other legends There is allegedly an inscription at the bottom of the deepest part of the river at the that reads in Latin, "Whoever reads this message will see his end near," as the low level of water in the river signals a drought and famine.
Another legend involves two twin brothers who were monks at an abbey near the and both had a wart on their nose. One brother was drawn from his chores by music and lights, leading him to a party at the . The devil took a part of the monk to ensure he would return the following week; he took the monk's wart. The delighted monk explained to his jealous brother that the Devil had taken his wart. The jealous brother went to the the following week to meet the devil. Instead of taking his wart, the Devil gave him his brother's, believing he was returning it.
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