Fontaine d'Orchaise, Cave entrance in Valencisse, France

Fontaine d'Orchaise is a cave entrance near Valencisse with two distinct levels and an underground river flowing through the lower section. A reservoir dam marks the opening, where water travels through subterranean passages.

First documented in 1682, the site was initially used for clay extraction, particularly for terra sigillata production. Later it shifted to serving as a water source for the nearby village.

The name "fontaine" reflects the site's past as a water source: until the early 1950s the village of Orchaise drew its drinking water from the cave. The 1682 mention records that clay known as "terre sigillée" was extracted here, though the source does not say what it was used for.

The entrance is easy to identify from the reservoir dam, which is over 2 meters deep. Visitors should note that the surrounding area is damp and the levels offer different accessibility.

Until the early 1950s the village of Orchaise was still supplied with water from the fountain. Because the bourg lies 60 m above the spring, the commune installed a hydraulic ram that used only the current's natural energy to raise the water.