Rochefort Cave, located in the Saulges Caves Valley in Mayenne, is a fascinating prehistoric and geological site. It developed in a very ancient limestone rock (- 300 million years). During your visit, you will discover in the first room an archaeological excavation site which attests to the presence of the Solutreans there.
-22 years ago! Your visit will continue into the bowels of the earth, as you will have to descend miller's ladders to reach the bottom of the chasm, where numerous concretions and an underground lake are located.
Ready for the adventure?
Chasm and underground lake
In the chasm, which is accessed through an artificial gallery, dug at the end of the 19th century, then after descending 15m of miller's ladders, you can see an underground lake which is at the same level as the Erve river. It does not seem very deep at first glance but still sinks to 10 meters!
Its water is remarkably clear and transparent. A species of small, colorless, blind shrimp measuring barely 2 cm, called Niphargus, lives in this lake, feeding on microorganisms.
Numerous concretions adorn the naturally colored walls with their unique shapes. The most iconic remains the "Giant's Hand," so named by Arsène Roblot, the first explorer to descend into the abyss in April 1882.
Archaeological remains
During your visit, you'll enter the Troglodyte Room, where the guide will introduce you to the archaeological excavation site. In 2001, Stéphan Hinguant and his team conducted the largest cave excavation for the Upper Paleolithic. It is the second largest excavated site in France to date for the Solutrean culture.
(-22 years ago). This archaeological site allows us to understand the daily life of the first humans,
because archaeologists discovered there:
01
Bone remains
Reindeer, horses, woolly rhinoceroses... Hunted during the Ice Age, they were used in particular for food, to make clothing and tools, etc.
02
Decorated objects
An engraved bear rib bearing 14 parallel, deep and equidistant incisions, the purpose of which is unknown... Also, engraved plaques in sandstone limestone, such as the magnificent plaque with the ibex.
03
Traces of use of the cave
In the excavation layers, called stratigraphy, medieval coins and sheep bones were unearthed, revealing the occupation of the area in the Roman and medieval periods.
New!
OWe go even further by offering you the chance to discover the archaeological excavation site of the Rochefort cave equipped with mixed reality glasses! They allow you to see the mediator and the space while having an overlay of holograms that appear according to the guide's explanations! This will allow you to better locate the elements discovered by the archaeologists.
Preparing my visit: frequently asked questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions in one click!
Is it mandatory to book online to visit?
Yes, reservation is required on our online ticketing (limited gauges in each cave). Subject to availability, tickets may be sold on-site for same-day or alternate-day visits. Reservations cannot be made by phone.
Should I print the tickets?
You do not need to print your tickets. Simply download them as PDFs to your mobile phone (or open the attachment in your email) and present them upon arrival at the museum reception or to the guide at the entrance to the cave.
How long does the visit last?
The guided tour of the Rochefort cave lasts approximately class.
From what age can you visit the Rochefort cave?
Rochefort Cave is accessible Ages 6 and up, for accessibility and security reasons.
How many people are allowed per visit?
The Rochefort cave is limited to 25 people maximum per visit to preserve the natural space.
Is the cave accessible to people with reduced mobility / claustrophobia / fear of heights?
No: the cavity being a natural space with little development, We do not recommend visiting the Rochefort cave for people with reduced mobility. (low ceiling passages), for people with vertigo (15m of miller's ladders to go down and up), to claustrophobic people (some passages are narrow) and to pregnant womenThe cave is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
Do I need to bring any special clothing for the visit?
Yes, to visit the caves plan:
- some closed shoes that don't mind getting dirty (sneakers, hiking or boots), caves being naturally humid and clayey spaces (there are sometimes puddles of water when the weather is very rainy, especially in winter)
- un warm clothing (13°C all year round inside the caves), the spaces are very humid
Are animals/cameras allowed inside the cave?
The following are prohibited inside the cave: animals, baby carriers, strollers, all types of bags, walking sticks, cameras, and video cameras. Lockers are available at the Prehistory Museum reception (token or €1 coin).
What is the time on my ticket?
The time on your ticket indicates the departure time of the guided tour of the cave. You must arrive at the cave no later than 10 minutes before the visiting time.
Is it possible to exchange a ticket?
Tickets are exchangeable directly on the online ticketing. You can change the time or date, for the same visit. You cannot exchange the visit (for example, it is not possible to change the visit to the Margot cave for the visit to the Rochefort cave.) The exchange is possible only once.
