Gouffre de l'Œil Doux, Pit cave and cenote in Fleury, France
The Gouffre de l'Œil Doux features high limestone walls surrounding an emerald water surface with a depth of 14 meters on rocky blocks.
Multiple explorations throughout time revealed no penetrable gallery passages, despite numerous attempts to find connections to the Mediterranean Sea.
The natural site appears in the 1996 French film 'Le Garçon d'orage' by Jerome Foulon, adding to its recognition in local heritage.
Visitors can park at Domaine de l'Oustalet or the dedicated parking area on the road between Fleury and Saint-Pierre-la-Mer to access the site.
The water salinity and level fluctuate based on rainfall and sea movements, as the Mediterranean lies only 1,500 meters from this geological formation.
Location: Fleury
Address: Gouffre de l'œil Doux, 11560 Fleury, France 11560 Fleury
GPS coordinates: 43.19220,3.18675
Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:51
France features a notable variety of protected natural areas, showcasing the country’s geological and ecological richness. From Lake Allos in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to the underground rivers of Padirac in Dordogne, from the mountain ranges of Savoy to the limestone formations of the Ardèche gorges, each region displays landscapes shaped over millennia of natural evolution. This collection gathers sites where nature is expressed freely: primary forests, karst systems, high-altitude lakes, moving dunes of the Atlantic coast, and rock formations carved by erosion. These areas provide diverse ecosystems, home to species adapted to different environments, from Alpine flora and fauna to dune communities and underground cave biodiversity. Each natural site in this selection serves as an open-air laboratory where geological processes, ecosystem dynamics, and living adaptation to local conditions can be observed. These sites invite discovery of authentic landscapes, removed from human impact, where geological time is evident in every rock formation and glacier valley.
Occitanie encompasses an architectural and natural heritage that reflects many centuries of history. Medieval villages are nestled in valleys and on heights, while castles and monasteries tell of the era of the Cathars and religious orders. The region also features remarkable geological formations: deep gorges, waterfalls, potholes, and caves decorated with prehistoric paintings. Among the sites to visit, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie overlooks the Lot Valley with its stone houses and narrow streets. The Peyrepertuse fortress stands at 800 meters above sea level on a rocky spur in the Corbières. The Navacelles cirque reveals a canyon carved by the Vis River, while the Gorges de la Jonte provide trails through a habitat for vultures. The Lagrasse Abbey maintains its medieval architecture on the banks of the Orbieu, and the Niaux Cave houses Magdalenian paintings dating back 14,000 years. Natural curiosities like the Gouffre de l'Oeil Doux and the intermittent Fountain of Fontestorbes complete this territory where history and geology meet.
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