Grottes de Lacave
A small train and a lift take you into the mountain, where stalactites under fluorescent lights and their reflections in an underground lake look like a fantastical city.
Grottes de Lacave are set in cliffs on the bank of the Dordogne River and were discovered in 1902 by Armand Viré. The visit begins with a small train into a tunnel inside the mountain, then a lift takes you down. A path of about 1.6 km leads through more than ten chambers. Stalactite forests are reflected in the still underground lake, and one section is lit with ultraviolet lamps that make the fluorescent calcite glow, like an 'underground city'. Admission is about €12, and the visit takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. It lies between Sarlat and Rocamadour, about 12 km from Rocamadour.
Opening hours
About Apr–Nov 10:00–17:00 (extended in summer)
Nearby sights
- Rocamadour
- Gouffre de Padirac
- Collonges-la-Rouge
- Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac
- Autoire
- Sarlat Cathedral & Lanterne des Morts
- Sarlat Saturday Market
- Sarlat Old Town