Grotte Sainte-Reine, Prehistoric cave in Pierre-la-Treiche, France.
Grotte Sainte-Reine is a natural cave with over 1,260 meters (4,100 feet) of underground passages and ranks as the second largest cavity in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department. The passages feature impressive limestone formations and multiple levels with varying characteristics throughout.
The cave was inhabited and used by people in prehistoric and Roman times, as evidenced by archaeological discoveries. Systematic exploration began in the 18th century, leading to its official protection as a historical monument in 1910.
The cave served as a shelter for people and animals across many centuries. Visitors can still see traces of these inhabitants through tools and bones scattered throughout the passages, revealing how humans and wildlife coexisted in this underground space.
The cave sits on the right bank of the Moselle River and access requires prior permission from the local municipality and National Forest Office. Visits must be arranged in advance and typically include a guided tour of the accessible sections.
The cave passages were carved out by an ancient course of the Moselle River over hundreds of thousands of years and still display clear evidence of this geological process. This underground river channel is a rare example of how water shapes landscapes over immense timescales.
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