River running through Cheran Gorges, Alps, Savoie, France

© Jean-Philippe Delobelle/Minde

A very precious river

Autumn has settled here on the banks of the Chéran - a river in the small region of Savoie, France. Nicknamed "the pearl of the Bauges" because of the remarkable character and beauty of the landscapes it crosses, this mountain stream is conducive to many activities, including one you perhaps wouldn't expect.

Gold miners have been visiting the Chéran since the middle ages – the 24-carat river known as one of the purest in the world - however the inhabitants of the region are confident that there will be no gold rush here. The precious metal is present only in small quantities within the riverbed and takes a lot of effort to harvest mere glitter.

For those who prefer more traditional mountain activities, you can enjoy the popular ‘Chaos of the Chéran’ hike which will see you travel 100 metres above the river. At that point you might even have a golden view…