The Padirac chasm
An exceptional natural and legendary site
The Devil’s Hole is certainly the stuff of legend… But one thing’s for sure: if you dare to visit, you’ll remember it… A trip in a boat and on foot 103 m below ground is unforgettable.
Actually discovered and explored by Edouard Alfred Martel in 1889 with simple floating ladders and ropes. Illuminated by candles and magnesium lamps on the first day of their expedition, they were only able to cover the first 400 meters of the gallery. 130 years later, of the 42 km of galleries, only less than 3 km are accessible to the public.
Visit the Padirac chasm
Today, equipped with an audioguide, the elevator (or staircase for the bravest) will take you safely down to the bottom of the chasm. Just remember to bundle up, you and your children, with a good sweater or fleece, as summer and winter temperatures are 13 degrees. At the bottom, before continuing your descent along the quay of the underground river, take a good look at this statue of Isabelle Thiltgès, which symbolizes the size of man in the face of the dimensions of the Padirac chasm.
After this short walk, you’ll embark on a leisurely descent of the underground river. Your boatman will share with you his passion and knowledge of the Padirac chasm: its origins, its history. He’ll tell you all about what the drops of water have shaped over the millennia. The origin of stalactites (the great pendeloque) and stalagmites, the formation of piles of plates, gours, lakes…. A magnificent sight for the eyes.
After the boat ride, you’re free to wander around the bottom of the chasm, where the audio guide will draw your attention to the different geological formations. You’ll be amazed by the Rain Lake and Gours Lake. Finally, the Salle du Grand Dôme is the grand finale, with its huge vaulted ceiling 94 m high.
Then it’s back to your boatman on the river and finally to the surface.
The Padirac chasm is like a journey to the center of the earth…!
Campsite 50 minutes from Gouffre de Padirac
From our campsite in Corrèze, we offer you the possibility of programming the day and time of the visit to limit our waiting time.
An incredible, magical experience following in the footsteps of Edouard-Alfred Martel as he becomes an explorer in the heart of the earth.
