NOV-MAR 10:30-11:30 13:30-16:30, tour every hour.
APR-JUN SEP-OCT 9:30-12 13:30-18, tour every half hour
JUL-AUG 9-18:30, tour every 20min.
Karst cave,
cave system,
river cave.
| Location: | A7 exit Valence,, A48/A41 exit Grenoble. |
| Open: |
All year. NOV-MAR 10:30-11:30 13:30-16:30, tour every hour. APR-JUN SEP-OCT 9:30-12 13:30-18, tour every half hour JUL-AUG 9-18:30, tour every 20min. |
| Fee: | Adults EUR 6,86, Students EUR 5,34, Children (5-14) EUR 4,57, Groups (25+): Adults EUR 5,34, Students EUR 4,57, Children (5-14) EUR 3,66. |
| Classification: |
Karst cave,
cave system,
river cave.
|
| Light: | electric. |
| Dimension: | L=15,000m, HD=450m. |
| Guided tours: | L=600m, D=60min. |
| Bibliography: | |
| Address: |
Grottes de Choranche, BP 7, F-38680 Pont en Royans. Tel: +33-476360988, Fax: +33-476361191,
E-mail: |
| Last update: | $Date: 2008/10/09 18:29:49 $ |
| 07-SEP-1897 | large cave parts discovered by the speleologist Oscar Descombaz. | |
| 05-DEC-1965 | cave purchased by Gilbert Mantovani and two friends. | |
| Winter 1966/1967 | road to the cave built, first electric light with generator and entrance buildings. Development of 300 m of passage. | |
| 1975 | a power line to the cave alows the development and lighting of 300 m more. | |
| 1985 | an artificial tunnel allows year round access to the cave. | |
| 1987 | a second artificial tunnel itergrates the Cathedral into the tour. | |
| 1989 | new entrance building. |
The Grotte de Choranche is accessible to the public since 1965. But at this time, a walk of 45min. or a ride on a mule from the village of Choranche, was necessary to get to the cave entrance. At this time there was no electric light in the cave, the tours were made with carbide lamps. But only two years later the first electric light, powered by a generator, lit some parts of cave. A new road allowed easy access to the cave entrance.
The first chamber of the cave is also the largest chamber of the visit, although the Cathedral is also very impressing. The first chamber (La salle principale) is 60m in diameter and up to 18m high.
The cave shows several nice formations. The most impressive is a huge pilar in the Galerie du Siphon.
But the highlight of the cave are
cave olms (Proteus anguinus),
which are originally from
Slovenia.
They were freed in the cave by the C.N.R.S. (Laboratory of Moulis) for breeding.
| Main Index | France | Rhône-Alpes | Vercors |
| Last updated Terms of Use, © Jochen Duckeck. |
 |
Clickable Maps Alphabetical Index |
|
Contact showcaves.com: |
|
General Information |
).