Grotte des Demoiselles, la salle cathédrale des fées

Saint-Bauzille-de-Putois

On the plateau de Thaurac, a large hole opens in the garrigue: the aven by which one enters the grotte des Demoiselles. According to the legend, a young shepherd named Petit Jean, gone to look for a stray ewe, fell through this opening into an immense hall with glittering columns where fairies danced. He woke hours later, outside, with his flock and the ewe found again. The cave is said thus to have been called Grotte des Fées, before becoming that of the Demoiselles. The sources differ on the exploration: Wikipedia EN cites a visit by the composer Marsollier in July 1780 and the work of Martel in 1889, whereas another article gives 1884 for Martel. The high point of the visit is the hall known as the ‘Cathédrale’, with a 50 m vault, vast enough to evoke Notre-Dame de Paris, and its stalagmite in the shape of a Virgin and Child. The hall has very fine acoustics, hosts concerts, and a Christmas mass has been celebrated there for about fifty years. A 54 m funicular, installed in 1931 as the first of its kind in Europe according to the tourist office, takes visitors down. The cave is a listed site.

Getting there: Developed cave, paying guided visit of about 1 h 15 (from €15 full price in 2026), open every day from 7 February to 31 December 2026, 10:30 am to 4:30 pm; 15 °C all year; contact +33 4 67 73 70 02. By road from Saint-Bauzille-de-Putois; the bus stop is 1.3 km away. Coordinates: car park of the cave from OpenStreetMap (Nominatim).

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

Ambient sound