Grotte du Chien, Natural cave and tourist attraction in Chamalières, France
Located at Avenue de la Gare, this basalt cave extends approximately 10 meters into the rock and contains naturally occurring carbon dioxide gas.
First documented in 1787 by writer Pierre Jean-Baptiste Legrand d'Aussy, the cave became a tourist destination after Doctor Petit acquired it in 1875.
The cave's name draws inspiration from the Grotta del Cane near Naples, where similar carbon dioxide accumulation affected animals at ground level.
The municipality of Chamalières currently owns the cave, which remains closed to visitors due to safety considerations regarding gas concentrations.
A stone bench inside the cave earned the name 'banc des belles-mères' due to its placement in areas with higher carbon dioxide concentrations.
Location: Chamalières
GPS coordinates: 45.76923,3.05989
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:46
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