

La Pierre Percée
On the majestic Creys hill, perched at an altitude of 1,220 meters, stands the remarkable Pierre Percée,, an imposing natural arch that has fueled legends for centuries.
From a distance, its silhouette resembles that of a sleeping dragon, its front legs poised with confidence. Some even whisper that it could be a petrified demon.
On the borders of the commune of Pierre-Châtel, this geological curiosity is considered one of the seven wonders of Dauphiné.
Sculpted by the vagaries of erosion, this rock formation – a Triassic cargneule – rises majestically before curving into a natural arch three meters high in the center.
Legends abound around this place, easily accessible from Pierre-Châtel (a 2 km round trip with an elevation gain of 270 meters) or from Motte d'Aveillans (a 6 km loop with an elevation gain of 275 meters). ). “We can weave many stories around this place,” breathes storyteller Élisabeth Calandry.
Some fanciful stories even claim that, during the solstice, the sun's rays passing through the arch point to a magical place!
The site is indeed very popular, offering a breathtaking panoramic view, a real postcard of the Matheysine region.