Spéléodrome de Nancy, Underground training center in Villers-lès-Nancy, France.
The Spéléodrome de Nancy is a training center located in underground galleries near Villers-lès-Nancy that extends for several kilometers through limestone passages. The walls display white calcite deposits and natural cave formations created by water movement over long periods.
The underground gallery system was constructed between 1899 and 1906 as a water supply infrastructure for the expanding city of Nancy. Later, speleologists discovered this subterranean network and adapted it for caving training purposes.
Speleologists use this site to train and share knowledge about underground geology with visitors and students. You can observe how limestone formations develop and what kinds of environments exist beneath the surface.
Entering the galleries requires descending a deep shaft and wearing warm, sturdy clothing since underground conditions remain cool and damp. Visits are always conducted with trained cave specialists who provide necessary equipment and ensure safety throughout the experience.
The gallery floor is covered with millions of tiny limestone pearls formed by slow dissolution and redeposition of limestone material. These rare formations make the site valuable for geologists and cavers interested in studying such geological oddities.
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