La cascade de la Vallière, Vallon des Faulx, ENS de l'Ain

The Vallière, which feeds the waterfall, rises in the hamlet of La Grande Fontaine and flows into the Reyssouze after crossing a 30-metre-high rock face.

The river receives water from the "Bief de Veau", which originates at the "source des 30 Chiens", under the Côte des Vignes, and from the Tréconnas stream, which originates at the Chantemerle spring.

The Vallière has a large, regular flow, and its course used to include three mills spread over almost a kilometer:
- The Vallière mill, downstream from the waterfall, existed as early as 1349 and was demolished in 1920. Its stones were used to build the Bouvard cookie factory in the center of Ceyzériat.
- Moulin de la Roche, just above the waterfall, which came into operation in 1792.
- Moulin des Billets, built in 1836 above the waterfall

On the trail of Jehu's Companions...
In Les Compagnons de Jéhu, published in 1857, the great writer Alexandre Dumas set an important scene of his novel in a small valley where the Vallière flows, below the church in Ceyzériat. There, in a cave, the writer sets a deadly battle between a regiment of dragoons in Bonaparte's pay and the Compagnons de Jéhu led by their leader Morgan.


The Vallière River
It rises in the hamlet of Grande Fontaine and flows into the Reyssouze after crossing a 30-metre-high rock barrier: the Vallière waterfall.

Pont de la Roche
Bridge spanning the top of the Vallière waterfall, and former fortified village gate.

This site has been awarded the Espace Naturel Sensible (ENS) label by the Ain department. Real natural and landscaped jewels of the Ain department, sites with the ENS "Espaces Naturels Sensibles" label are managed in such a way as to preserve the biodiversity they host, and are designed to be open to the public (with certain exceptions due to the fragility of the environment).

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