Aven Marzal, Show cave in Saint-Remèze, France.
Aven Marzal is a cave near Saint-Remèze where passages extend 800 meters underground, shaped by stalactites, stalagmites, and mineral formations built up over millennia. The stone displays layers and textures formed as water seeped through the rock over thousands of years.
The cave was first discovered in 1892 by E.A. Martel but then fell into obscurity until French cave explorers found it again in 1949. It opened to visitors starting in 1954 and has since become a destination for underground exploration.
The site carries a name tied to early cave exploration and stands as a place where scientific curiosity meets the natural world. Visitors experience how underground research developed in France and what drew people to discover hidden geology.
Visitors can join guided tours lasting around one hour that show the interior passages and formations. The site is walkable, though visitors should be prepared for stairs and uneven ground underground.
Beyond the cave itself, the site includes a dinosaur zoo with life-sized recreations of mammoths, T-rex, and other prehistoric creatures. These animated scenes spread across about two hectares create an unusual mix alongside the underground passages.
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