Family-run gîte complex in the Pyrénées near Carcassonne and Mirepoix
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A large part of the Pyrenees is limestone, so there are a large number of caves and caverns leading into the depths. Some caves date back to Prehistoric times and are of world hiistoric importance - most notably 'Niaux'. Others have been discovered more recently and opened to the public, still others are unusual in having rivers you can travel down by boat, or concert halls.
Since the closure of the world-renowned caves at Lascaux, Niaux is the most important cave in France for viewing original prehistoric cave paintings. Niaux has some of the finest cave art in Europe with drawings of bison, horses and deer that have been carbon dated at 13,000 years old.
Because of the sensitivity of these paintings, access is closely controlled and you will be part of a group of no more than 20 people, carrying 'one torch between two people'. Pre-booking is essential. This is one of the 7 'Grand sites of the Ariege' supported by the Regional council - see the official website for details.
This 16 page document in French describes the caves in much more detail (40Mb download)
The 'Grotte de Lombrives' is billed as 'the biggest cave in Europe', but it's neither the longest, deepest or the one with the biggest single chamber, but it is a massive cave in which you can take anything up to an 8 hour underground tour. The cave has one huge chamber hosting concerts for up to 1000 people but not much to speak of in terms of cave formations.
The 'cathedral' cavern which is 100m high is beyond this concert venue, (although be warned, you have to take the five hour walking tour to get this far into the cave). Their shorter 90 minute tour takes in the famous 'mammouth' stalagmite and the cave in which they hold mainly choral concerts.
Their fairly bizarre site with little information is at grotte-lombrives.
The grotte de Bedeilhac is a gigantic cave full of stalagmites and with some paleolithic paintings of animals dating back more than 15,000 years. The art is not as impressive as Niaux, but as Bedheilac was also used during the second world war for maintaining German aeroplanes, there are also fascinating relics from this period! This cave has no offcial website.
Something a bit different, just North of Foix is the Riviére Souterraine de Labouiche - the longest subterranean river in Europe. At one end the river flows out of the mouth of a cave, and at the other there is a deep spiral staircase of over 100 steps. At the bottom of the staircase is a small showcave with some interesting formations and between the two is 1km of underground river where you travel in a boat in groups of up to 6 and the guides pull you through using ropes lashed to the roof of the cave. The tours take place in both directions so it is pot luck whether you go up or down the staircase! Again, this cave has no official website.
The grotte de la Vache is a small but rich archaological site, with animal bones and artifacts such as fireplaces which can be seen in the onsite exhibition.
It is more of a museum than a show cave, some details are on the grotte de la vache site.
The Mas d'Azil is unusual (even in the company of the other remarkable Pyrenean caves), as the 80m high cave is naturally cut through 400m of rock, and now forms part of the D119 route! Off of the road is a small cave with significant world historical importance - due to it's natural position and the shelter provided by the huge cavern through which the road now passes, the cave has been by man since pre-history.
In the past three years the Regionaland departmental councils have spent millions of euros renovating the the cave and the museum of prehistory alongside it before the grand re-opening in May 2013.
Many events are held outside the area of the cave during the Summer, and there are is a glass blower and potter working and exhibiting in the buildings just to the North. Bungee jumpers are often seen leaping from a purpose built platform in the mouth of the cave.
The village of Mas D'Azil is 1km to the North with restaurants and often activities during the summer. This is one of the 7 'Grand sites of the Ariege' supported by the Regional council - see the official website for details.
It also has it's
own site with more details.
Fontestorbes (20 mins)
Only a small cave, Fontestorbes is much more famous for its 'intermittent spring' - the spring lures you into the cave over some lovely stepping stones across the stream, then without warning the flow increases to cover the stones and block off your exit! Fortunately the problem is short lived as the spring returns to normal over 10-15 minutes before repeating 20 minutes later. Great for children, you can almost set your watch by its cycle during Summer months, and there is always the climbing park with snack bar for anyone stranded outside the cave when the water rises...
