Cave of Sainte-Colombe, archaeological site of the Bronze Age, the Roman period and the Middle Ages, Archaeological cave in Undervelier, Switzerland

The Cave of Sainte-Colombe is an abri on the left bank of the Sorne, in the second Sorne gorge between Les Forges and Undervelier, beside main road 248.4 linking the Delémont basin with Bellelay. The shelter is about 26 metres wide, reaches 30 metres into the rock and is 7 metres high at the entrance. A small karst spring rises inside, its water running from a stalagmite into a shallow basin.

The cave served as a dwelling and shelter during the Bronze Age, the Roman period, and the Middle Ages, as archaeological evidence shows. Excavations in the 1940s by Frédéric-Édouard Koby uncovered pottery and artifacts from these distinct time periods.

The cave is dedicated to Saint Columba of Sens, a 3rd-century martyr, and a crucifix stands beneath its entrance arch. A pilgrimage has been documented here since the 13th century, held each year on 15 August, and the spring water is credited with healing power.

The cave sits on the left bank of the Sorne River between Les Forges and Undervelier and is reachable via the main road connecting Delsberger Basin to Bellelay. The location is straightforward to reach for visitors exploring this archaeological site.

The spring water is credited with healing powers, which is why the site has been a pilgrimage destination since the 13th century. A crucifix stands beneath the entrance arch, and the cave is dedicated to Saint Columba of Sens, a 3rd-century martyr.