Aven Armand cave on the Causse Méjean. Illuminated stalagmites.Nature sometimes has spectacular surprises in store for us, and in the bowels of the earth, water has secretly shaped extraordinary forms: this is the territory of caves and avens. Discover these underground paradises without further ado…
Some caves are open to the public:
The Dargilan cave is the largest cave in the Causses and Cévennes, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.WHO WAS EDOUARD ALFRED MARTEL?
Born in Pontoise in 1859, Martel developed a taste for geography from an early age, and curiously enough, for the underground world, at a time when caves frightened rather than fascinated. He began a career as a lawyer, but this did not prevent him from exploring the world and bringing back from his travels numerous works that would make him famous.
His discovery of the Grands Causses took place in 1833. He fell in love with it, and from then on never stopped exploring the bowels of the limestone plateaux, amazed by so many underground treasures concentrated in one place. In 10 years, he explored over 200 of them. Altruistic, he was keen to share his discoveries with as many people as possible, and so worked to build the first tourist facilities in caves and avens.
To this great man, we owe the birth of speleology, as well as the discovery and exploration of numerous geological wonders, including Aven Armand, Dargilan and Abîme de Bramabiau.
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Come and marvel at nature’s masterpieces at Aven Armand.
Located on the Causse Méjean , it features almost 400 stalagmites ,including “La Grande Stalagmite“,30m high. Its impressive size has earned it a world record for the largest stalagmite in the underground world.
Family outing to Aven Armand
Grotte de Dargilan on the Causse Noir near Meyrueis in the Jonte Gorges. Known as the Grotte Rose, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.#2
A place of magic and imagination, visit the Grotte de Dargilan near Meyrueis to discover impressive stalactites and stalagmites in the very heart of the Gorges de la Jonte . This cave, nicknamed “the pink cave”, has galleries rather than a single cavity, unlike theaven armand.
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Immerse yourself in a cave and observe the underground river of Bramabiau. At its peak, a huge waterfall will stand in front of you, and the sound of flowing water will transport you into an enchanted universe… On the border between the Gard and Lozère departments, this is a unique and unmissable site.
Abime de Bramabiau "the underground river of happiness...".
