Baume Saint-Vérédème, Cave entrance in Sanilhac-Sagriès, France

Baume Saint-Vérédème is a cave entrance set in the cliffs above the Gardon gorges, in the commune of Sanilhac-Sagriès in southern France. The opening leads into a passage of around 150 meters (490 feet) in length, cut through the limestone rock of the surrounding plateau.

The cave takes its name from the hermit Vérédème, who according to local tradition lived here during the early Middle Ages. The chapel built into the cliff nearby dates to the 12th century and marks the site as a place of religious use for many centuries.

The Baume Saint-Vérédème sits along a trail through the garrigue, the low scrubland that covers the hills above the Gardon gorges. Walkers pass by a small 12th-century chapel built into the cliff face before reaching the cave entrance, which gives the site its name and its connection to the hermit Vérédème.

The cave entrance is reached by following the marked Sanilhac - La Baume trail, which is signposted in yellow and passes through rocky patches of scrubland. A torch or phone light is needed inside the cave, as the interior is completely dark.

The cave is home to a colony of bats, which means it is closed to visitors during two periods each year: from mid-November to mid-March, and again from May to August. Visiting outside these windows gives a chance to see the bats flying near the entrance at dusk.