Grotte de la Madeleine, Show cave in Saint-Remèze, France.
Grotte de la Madeleine is a cave system formed in limestone within the Ardèche gorges, extending through multiple chambers with varied formations. The accessible sections display stalactites, stalagmites, and mineral columns that visitors can see from designated pathways.
The cave was discovered in the early 1900s and represents millions of years of water erosion working through limestone. This geological formation demonstrates how natural processes gradually shape underground landscapes over vast timescales.
The cave has become a focal point for people interested in exploring the underground world since its discovery. Today, visitors can observe how the space reveals the slow, patient work of nature in carving rock formations.
The cave is accessible to visitors from March through November, with tours lasting about one hour. The temperature stays constant year-round, so bringing a light jacket is practical since underground spaces stay cool.
The mineral formations inside display multiple colors including red, orange, and white, created by different mineral compositions in the rock. This color variation makes each chamber visually distinct and adds to the experience of exploring the passages.
Location: Saint-Remèze
GPS coordinates: 44.33973,4.48502
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:44
The Ardèche combines natural formations with centuries of human settlement. This southeastern French département stretches from the volcanic heights of the Cévennes to deeply carved limestone gorges along the river of the same name. The Pont d'Arc, a 197-foot (60-meter) natural stone arch, marks the entrance to the Gorges de l'Ardèche, while the Grotte Chauvet preserves cave paintings created 36,000 years ago. The landscape alternates between forested plateaus like the Bois de Païolive, where weathered limestone takes unusual shapes, and river valleys that have supported communities for centuries. Several villages including Balazuc, Vogüé, and Labeaume cling to cliffsides above the water, their narrow lanes leading past castle ruins and Romanesque churches. The Cascade du Ray-Pic drops 197 feet (60 meters) over a basalt wall, while Mont Gerbier de Jonc holds the source of the Loire River. Beneath the surface, extensive cave systems include the Grotte de la Madeleine and the Aven d'Orgnac with its underground chambers. The Château de Crussol stands on a rocky outcrop above the Rhône valley, while the Château d'Aubenas dominates the town below. Between these natural and historical sites, the Train du Vivarais and the Vélorail des Gorges du Doux connect visitors to the region in practical ways.
Gorges de l'Ardèche
3.2 km
Aven d'Orgnac
6.2 km
Cave Saint-Marcel-d'Ardèche
4.5 km
Musée de la Lavande
5.2 km
Réserve naturelle nationale des gorges de l'Ardèche
1.3 km
Aven Marzal
3.9 km
Grotte de la Tête du Lion
5.2 km
Zoo Préhistorique de Marzal: la Forêt des Dinos
4 km
Cité de la Préhistoire
5.8 km
Grotte des Deux ouvertures
5.2 km
Vestiges
1.6 km
Baume d'Oullins
2.2 km
Plage de Sauze
6.3 km
Champvermeil dolmen
6.1 km
Dolmens du Chanet
974 m
Chanet dolmen
2.4 km
Grosse Pierre
5 km
Colombier dolmen
5.1 km
Église Sainte-Anne de Laval-Saint-Roman
4.8 km
Église de Saint Remèze
6 km
Église de l'Orgnac-l'Aven
5.5 km
Église de Le Garn
3.8 km
Église de la Décollation-de-Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Bidon
4.9 km
Grotte Huchard
5.3 km
Aven de la Rouvière
2.5 km
Chapelle Sainte-Anne de Saint-Remèze
6.1 km
Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours de Malataverne
4.7 km
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