Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The gorges of Pont-du-Diable form a karst dug by the Dranse de Morzine in the Chablais massif in Haute-Savoie. This natural site, classified since 1908 for its beauty, was born of a complex geological phenomenon: karst erosion during the glaciation of the Würm shaped narrow canyons, partially obstructed by morainic blocks. The most imposing of these blocks, nicknamed the Devil's Bridge, inspired a local legend where the devil, deceived by the villagers, cursed the structure after being fooled by a goat disguised as a human.

The tourist exploitation of the gorges began in 1893, when Jean Bochaton, carpenter of Saint-Paul-en-Chablais, obtained a concession to develop wooden stairs and footbridges. The site, originally attended by curators from Thonon-les-Bains and Evian, developed with paid leave in 1936. Several managers succeeded each other, including Jean Calligaris (1893–1936) and Jean Raibaud (until 1980), who modernized infrastructure. In 1949, the construction of the Jotty Dam reduced the flow of the Dranse, but a minimum flow was maintained to preserve the tourist attraction.

Ranked among the geosites of the Chablais Geoparc since 2012, the site underwent a major renovation in 2020: the bridges were rebuilt, and a Pas du Diable (platform suspended) was added. Today owned by Jocelyne and Didier Rineau, the gorges remain the most visited site of the French Chablais, in front of the Palais Lumière d'Evian. Their heritage value is based on both their exceptional geology and bicentennial tourism history.

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