Sillans la Cascade is a small town in the South of France, famous mostly for its epic 42 meters (138 feet) high waterfall.

It’s the perfect day trip from Marseille, Nice, or Aix-en-Provence.

Let’s explore it together!

 

sillans la cascade var france

 

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Where is Sillans la Cascade?

Sillans la Cascade is located in the Var department (83), in the South of France.

You can find the exact location on the map below:
 

 
It’s very close to major cities like Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Toulon, and Nice (less than 2-hour drive), and it’s thus an ideal choice for a day trip if you’re staying in one of these cities on the south coast.

With Nes, we spent holidays in South of France in July 2018, exploring the Gorges du Verdon and surrounding areas. We didn’t plan to visit it as we simply didn’t know about it. In fact, it was the owner of the Airbnb we were staying in who told us about this small city called Sillans la Cascade. So, we decided to visit it as it was only a 10-minute drive from Salernes, the town we were staying in. 

Sillans-la-Cascade has less than 1,000 inhabitants, and is locally famous for its stunning waterfall, as the name suggests (“cascade” means “waterfall” in French). Tourism is the main source of revenue for the town.

 

Exploring the waterfall of Sillans la Cascade

How to get to Sillans la Cascade

The waterfall is located 10 minutes away from the village of Sillans la Cascade. When you get in Sillans la Cascade, try to park your car next to the school. Next to the school is also where you’ll find the start of the trail that leads to the waterfall.

From the parking lot, head to the school, and keep right at the fork. You’ll be on the path named “Le Cour”. Follow it all the way to the end, and you’ll end up on a nice viewing platform, right in front of the waterfall.

 

sillans la cascade var france from the sky

 

You can see the viewing platform on the image above, at the very bottom of the photo.

The view from the platform is nice, but the platform itself is quite small; it can fit between 10 and 20 people. If you visit during summer, it will be pretty crowded, so make sure to go early in the morning. If you can, visit off-season.

If you follow the path and go to the platform, you won’t be able to go down to the waterfall. If you want to go closer, you’ll have to find another path.

 

Swimming in Sillans la Cascade

Be aware that swimming is now forbidden in the main waterfall.

 

sillans la cascade from drone

 

As you can see on the image above, the water from the waterfall then flows to a couple of small lakes. If you want to swim, you can head down there. When we visited, it was late afternoon during sunset, and it was getting cold. Still, we saw a family chilling down there, and swimming in the water.

 

sillans la cascade lower basin

If you do go down to the waterfalls, please be respectful of the location; take your trash with you when you leave!

 

sillans la cascade lower basin with three

 

After shooting sunset, the night fell quite quickly. Be aware that there are no lights at the waterfall, so be careful if you plan to stay there for sunset. Thankfully I had with me my headlamp (which I always bring with me on trips), and we were able to walk back to the parking lot easily.

 

sillans la cascade from viewpoint

 

Info & Tips for your Visit to Sillans la Cascade

If you plan to visit Sillans la Cascade and its waterfall, you’ll find below several tips to help you make the most out of your visit:

  • Parking is not free: make sure to pay for your parking, it’s around 1€ for 1h30. The town regularly gives parking tickets if you haven’t paid, or even if you stay a bit longer than what you paid for. Plan ahead and pay for extra time for some peace of mind. 
  • Visit off-season: if you can, try to avoid July and August for your visit. The best time to visit the waterfall is in spring, not only because there are still very few tourists, but also because this is the time when the flora comes back to life and turns all green. 
  • Go for sunrise: the place gets crowded pretty quickly, as it’s quite small. If you want to experience the waterfall without anyone, wake up early and go there for the sunrise. 
  • Pack a headlamp if you go for sunrise/sunset: there are no lights at the waterfall, so pack a headlamp if you plan to go for sunrise or sunset when it’ll be dark. 
  • Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash.
  • Make sure to bring water and/or snacks with you as you won’t find anything onsite. But again, don’t leave anything behind you! 

 

Where to Stay Near Sillans la Cascade 

Ready to book your adventure to discover Sillans la Cascade? Here are the best accommodations to stay near the waterfall:

✅ Best Hotel – Longo Maï: This place is only 3 min drive from the waterfall! With an exceptional rate of 9.2 on Booking, you’ll have a wonderful stay in this beautiful traditional Provence house. Amenities include a nice outdoor swimming pool and the breakfast is delicious.

💰 Budget Pick – 4 safraniers: Located in the heart of the village of Sillans, this charming property has everything for you to spend a great stay. The host is very welcoming and the rooms are neat and clean.

✨ Luxury Pick – Villa B: This outstanding villa is located in the little town of Sallernes, about 8 min drive from the waterfall. Newly renovated and beautifully decorated, this place has great large rooms, an amazing outdoor pool, and serves a tasty breakfast.

Check out this guide to get more options in Provence.

 

golden trees next to sillans la cascade var france

 

What to Visit After Sillans la Cascade?

While you’re in the area, and if you have time, there are several absolutely beautiful locations to explore around Sillans la Cascade. I’ve listed below a few that you can check out:

 

sillans la cascade from above

 

So there you have it, your guide to Sillans la Cascade and its epic waterfall. If you have any questions about the place, simply ask in the comments below and I’ll make sure to reply asap!

If you end up going and posting your images online, tag them with #kevmrctravel so I can see them 😉