Grotte des Demoiselles

By far, one of the most spectacular stops on our travels was Grotte des Demoiselles, a large cave located just down the road in the village or commune of Saint-Bauzille de Putois.  We have visited a number of caves on our travels so were expecting the usual array of stalactites and stalagmites that had formed to look like something else - a candlestick, a wedding cake, a scene from the last supper, etc.  Driving up, up, way up, to the entrance, little did we expect what we'd find inside the mountain.

A fairly inauspicious start - just a short climb to the entrance

Up, up we go - a funicular to the caverns

After paying our 8.5 Euros, our guide led us on to a funicular to ascend yet further up the inside of the mountain.  We were a little non-plussed to see another car descending the tunnel towards us, but they had a switching track in the middle, so we lived through our first challenge.

Ok. A little awe-inspiring

Arriving at the top (or so we thought) we found wide stone staircases and readied ourselves for an easy climb, snapping pictures along the way.

A nice gentle climb - who says caving is hard

Easy climb over - a staircase straight down to ...

We rounded a corner, and our easy climb was over.  Although our guide only spoke French, his sound effects of a long, low whistle followed by the gestures and sounds of a bomb exploding was pretty clear.  It was a long way down (60 meters) and we were to watch our step or face sure and sudden death.

OK.  A lot awe-inspiring

Wandering through narrow passages, with the wet sounds of stalactites dripping onto  stalagmites on the cave floor meters below, I was reminded of one of the original Star Wars movies when the Millenium Falcon (OK, geek moment) took refuge from the storm troopers by hiding in a cave in an asteroid field.  All of a sudden, Harrison Ford says "this ain't no cave" or something equally profound, and they got the h.. out of there.  Switch to scene of Falcon flying out of the snapping jaws of a giant beast.

Inside the belly of the beast - where is Harrison Ford when you need him?

No this isn't snow - although it is damp and glittery like a beacon in the dark

A school of giant jellyfish floating all around us

Stomach-churning descent half over, we came into a large cavern known as the 'cathedral', complete with spooky church organ music piped all around us.  Our guide would occasionally stop and accompany the background music  by rhythmically pounding on formations that played like organ pipes, and others that sounded like drums.

About halfway down - yes we did descend those stairs - ve-e-ry carefully

As we descended very carefully on stone stairs made slick with moisture, we occasionally caught sight of the narrow paths and thin iron bars bolted into the cavern walls and used by the original explorers.  I think if we could have seen the bottom we would have spied some bones in among the stalagmites.  They did, in fact, display the skeleton of a bear who was one of the original explorers of the cave.

Natural monument to Madonna and child

Wow!

Winding through the narrow openings between the caverns, we were constantly awe-struck by what met our eyes.  At times I would stop for a picture and lose the group around the next corner for a minute or two.  All alone in the massive cavern, I got a sense of what the first adventurers to stumble on this wonder of nature felt - awe mixed with a healthy dose of fear.

Wow again!

A waterfall of jellyfish

An explosion of luminescent white

Ken looking a little worried about the next part of the descent

Which end is up?  Not sure.

After about 1-1/2 to 2 hours inside, it was both a shock to the systems and a relief to come back out into the sunshine of the beautiful French countryside.  We felt a little whimpy, however, when we noticed the rock climbers experiencing the mountain from the outside.

While we used the stairs - others choose a more direct route

Back into the sun - happy to see the village below

A peaceful end to a totally spectacular day

 The Grotte des Demoiselles is not an experience we will soon forget.  Highly recommended on the tour list - just make sure enjoy the local wines after the tour and not before.