![Edouard Alfred Martel, father of 19th-century speleology, explores the Dargilan and Aven Armand caves](https://www.aubrac-gorgesdutarn.com/app/uploads/aubracgorgesdutarn/2022/02/thumbs/edouard-alfred-martel-nadar-640x160-crop-1699525691.jpg)
What all three caves have in common is that they were first discovered by the same explorer/speleologist: Edouard Alfred Martel.
What all three caves have in common is that they were first discovered by the same explorer/speleologist: Edouard Alfred Martel.
#1
Located in the heart of the Causse Méjean,Aven Armand owes its name to the man who discovered it: Louis Armand, a blacksmith and amateur speleologist living in Le Rozier, on September 19, 1897, in the company of his acolyte, the famous Édouard-Alfred Martel.
The Aven Armand is not a cave, but an“aven“: a sort of chasm whose access opens into the ground in the form of a shaft… One of the most beautiful caves in the region, it’s a magical place, where stalagmites and stalactites have been forming for thousands of years…
There are several ways to visit Aven Armand:
Concerts are also held in the cave in season.
#2
Also discovered by Édouard-Alfred Martel, Grotte de Dargilan is located near Meyrueis, on the Causse Noir.
Nicknamed the Grotte Rose, the Grotte de Dargilan is one of Lozère’s must-see natural sites. It captivates visitors with its impressive dimensions and variety of concretions in highly accentuated natural colors. An exceptional visit to a UNESCO World Heritage site!
#3
Discover theAbîme de Bramabiau, an underground river in the Massif de l’Aigoual on the Lozère-Gard border.
In the heart of the Cévennes, theRivière du Bonheur is born in the open air… On contact with the limestone soil, it rushes into the Causse de Camprieu to gush out 800 metres further on… This abyss can be explored over a one-kilometre guided tour. A veritable treasure trove of nature, theAbîme de Bramabiau is a must-see on your Lozère vacation.