Grotte Célestine

Grotte Célestine is an underground cave system with limestone passages containing stalactites, stalagmites, and mineral deposits throughout. An underground river flows through the passages and creates a wet environment with varied geological formations at different levels.

A seed merchant discovered the cave in 1845 while digging a well and uncovered the underground river system. Water had carved this passage through limestone over thousands of years before the discovery.

The cave bears the name of a saint and draws visitors who walk through narrow passages decorated with shimmering crystal formations. The site offers people a direct way to understand how water shapes stone over countless years beneath the surface.

Visitors receive helmets, rubber boots, and headlamps for a guided tour lasting about one hour through the passages. It is wise to book ahead as places are limited and the temperature underground stays cool year-round.

This is the only fully developed underground river system in the Gironde region, allowing visitors to walk along a path roughly 13 meters beneath the surface. The river flows through the passage and creates an environment quite different from above-ground river landscapes.

Location: Rauzan

GPS coordinates: 44.77725,-0.12568

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:23