South of France is known for the lavender in Provence and the coastal villages along the Mediterranean. But, we really wanted to go wild swimming in nature with a beautiful view and lucky for us, we got to do just that with some of our favorite people (Check out Daniel Start’s book, “Wild Swimming France” which shares 750 natural swim spots in France).
When we visited family in Montpellier, they took us for a weekend swim at Cascade de la Vis in the village of Saint-Laurent-Le-Minier. We brought a picnic and had a blast floating in the refreshing waters and swimming in the waterfalls. The kids played with their crabbing nets, jumped in and out of the water and chased butterflies. It was such a relaxing and sleepy afternoon where we made some core memories!
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Tips for Having the Perfect Day
(1) Parking: We parked in a large parking area (cost 10 euros) but we heard you can also park at the nearby restaurant for free if it’s open and if there is a spot.
(2) Getting to the waterfall: It was a short walk down to Cascade de la Vis down a dirt path, through shallow flowing water and under beautiful stone bridges. I highly recommend wearing water shoes or shoes you don’t mind getting wet or even swim in (I like wearing Tevas or Native shoes). Once you turn the corner, you are welcomed with a glorious waterfall!
(3) Where to picnic: There were plenty of flat surfaces to lay out and picnic. The closer you are to the waterfall, the stronger the currents. You can choose to find a spot on the large pebbly beach area at the entrance which is a quick swim to the waterfall. We opted for the flat rocks a bit further away from the waterfall just pass the bridge with shade from the trees. We still had a beautiful view of the waterfall. But, it was less crowded and there was only a light current which allowed our kids to easily play and wade in the water. It was also an easy swim and rock hop to the waterfall where people were cliff jumping and swimming into the waterfall.
(4) What to bring:
- Swimsuit (if you want to swim)
- Water or swim shoes (we like wearing Tevas or Native shoes)
- Towels (we like these travel quick dry towels)
- Picnic food and snacks
- Water toys (if you have kids) or floaties
- Beach umbrella (if you plan to set up on the beach area)
