Cuves de Sassenage et la fée Mélusine

Sassenage

At Sassenage, at the foot of the Vercors, the Cuves open, a cave carved for several million years by an underground river, the Germe, according to the Grenoble tourist office. The first explorations date from the 17th century; in 1947 two hundred metres of paths were opened to the public, and the guided visit now covers about a kilometre. Since the end of the Middle Ages the Cuves have been counted among the seven wonders of the Dauphiné. Here tradition speaks of a cave fairy, whom the barons of Sassenage eventually identified with Mélusine. They said they were her descendants. According to the tale, she came out of the caves in human form three days before the death of a lord of the family, to warn him. It was also said that her tears had turned into small stones, the ‘pierres des yeux’, thrown into the Furon. A relief in the château, built around 1660, shows Mélusine in her bath. Historians do not settle it: the barons first linked their origin to the fairy of the place, and only afterwards to Mélusine, after reading Jean d'Arras. The visit now ends with a sound and light show about the fairy.

Getting there: Guided visit only, by reservation: departure from the Pré des Cuves at Sassenage, to be presented 30 min beforehand; the climb to the entrance takes at least half an hour. Open mainly from June to October (July–August every day from 2 pm; weekends in June, September, October). About €10 for an adult, €6 for ages 6 to 14. Closed in case of flood; the path may have been closed because of fire risk. The coordinates are those of the departure point (OpenStreetMap), not of the cave entrance.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound