CONTENTS
AN IDYLLIC PLACE 🙈
Day two of our weekend in the Var; for the other articles, click here! Before heading home from this active weekend, we went to Sillans-la-Cascade. This town and its waterfall are more and more popular, offering one of the most beautiful waterfalls in France! A very pretty town, typical of the South of France, and after a few minutes’ walk through the wildlife and plants, we spotted this big waterfall with its turquoise water. 😍
We visited Sillans-la-Cascade at the end of June, and we could only think of one thing: cooling off with a jump into this beautiful water!
PARKING 
Let’s start with the first thing you deal with when you arrive somewhere: parking. 
To keep it simple, all the parking lots are paid, whether it’s the one right next to the waterfall or the one in town. If you decide to park in town, you’ll have a few extra minutes of walking compared with the other lot right next to the waterfall.
Parking rates: 1h/€1 | 2h/€3 | 3h/€5 | 4h/€7… – TOWN WEBSITE
We thought we’d get away without paying for parking: we’d found a spot not far away (see map) that seemed fine, but it wasn’t. 2 weeks later I got a €35 fine 
If I have one piece of advice for you, park in one of the two paid lots; don’t try what we did, especially in summer. The ASVP (parking enforcement officers) are very quick to act.
PROTECTING THE SILLANS WATERFALL 🌝
The Sillans waterfall has been classified as a protected natural area since 2011. You can no longer reach the bottom of the waterfall; it’s closed to the public. You can only see it from the viewpoint. It’s understandable for a place that’s getting more and more touristy: nearly 200,000 visitors come to see this waterfall every summer.
It’s our duty to protect and preserve it. Being citizens who respect wildlife and plants is our duty. We’re all responsible, and everyone has to be careful about the footprint they leave behind. Trash stays in your backpack and isn’t thrown into nature. Doing the opposite makes no sense: use the trash cans provided!
For a few years now, the paths have been marked out, and there’s no point climbing over barriers or fences… just because you feel like it. We didn’t enjoy the natural pools; to be honest, we couldn’t find where they were. 😂
GETTING TO THE SILLANS WATERFALL
I’ve always been told all roads lead to Rome! You’ll see it’s pretty much the same when you want to reach the Sillans waterfall from the viewpoint: there are lots of paths! If you just want to see the waterfall and leave, I recommend the parking lot closest to the waterfall; you can’t miss it. 
Getting there couldn’t be easier: follow the signs. In most cases, all the hiking trails lead to the viewpoint, where you can admire this magnificent waterfall!
GOOD TO KNOW:
GOOD TO KNOW:- It takes about 10 to 20 minutes to reach the viewpoint, depending of course on your fitness and the path you take.
- Not suitable for people with reduced mobility
- There are big steps and trails that can be a hassle if you come with a stroller.
- Closed-toe shoes preferably; it would be silly to sprain your ankle.
- Once you reach the viewpoint, you can’t keep walking; you’ll have to go back the same way. When we did it, there were so many people that it was hard to pass each other.
- As usual, bring a water bottle and a small snack, especially if you go in June/July/August/September.
- Swimming is prohibited, so no need to bring swimsuits, towels… (I’ll tell you more right after)
- Dogs are allowed only on a leash.
I wasn’t ready for the photo 😅
CAN YOU SWIM? 🏊
The Sillans waterfall is very beautiful! Who doesn’t dream of jumping into that turquoise water? But it hasn’t been allowed for a few years now. This is partly due to the influx of tourists. You have to understand that 10 or 20 years ago this waterfall was much less well known; it was harder to share things, and social media wasn’t as widespread and didn’t have the same purpose back then.
Since hundreds of thousands of tourists started visiting, the town had to protect this place for the sake of its wildlife and plants, as it was losing its charm year after year because of tourists’ lack of respect. That’s why swimming is prohibited, to protect the already fragile ecosystem, but also for people’s safety, as the risk of collapse and falling rocks is significant.
So the main pool is off-limits for swimming, and you can get fined for not respecting the rules. That said, you can go a little farther downstream to cool off. You’ll notice there’s some trash, especially in summer.
VISITING THE TOWN & THE SURROUNDING AREA 🧐
Once we’d finished with the waterfall, we headed to the town center to discover the village and grab a bite. It’s a very pretty village, small and quick to walk around, but it’s always nice to discover new places. Here’s what you can see in town and in the surrounding area:
- Swim a little farther downstream from the waterfall
- Visit the Château de Sillans
- Stroll through the village lanes
- Visit the nearby villages
- Head to Lac de Sainte-Croix
- The Gorges du Verdon, for example the Sentier de l’Imbut.
- Swim at the Cascades des Carmes in Barjols
What’s beautiful about our country is the diversity of places! We can only appreciate the many treasures France has to offer. 🇫🇷
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