Grotte des Russes

Useful Information

Location:	57880 Varsberg. (49.1783177, 6.6093385)
Open:	no restrictions. [2026]
Fee:	free. [2026]
Classification:	Cave House
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	not allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Grotte des Russes, Tel: +33-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

JUL-1896

cave created by a German company stationed in Metz during a manoeuvre.

Description

The Grotte des Russes (The Russians’ Cave) is located in a huge sandstone rock in the forest west of Varsberg. This rock has an entrance and sort of circular window, which makes this rock look a little like a cave house from a cartoon. HHowever, this is not tha cave home of a hermit, and actually it is not very old. It was created in July 1896 by a German company stationed in Metz. They carried out manoeuvres and built a wooden bridge nearby, commemorating the event by carving a commemorative plaque into the sandstone. They also dug the small "Kammer" (‘chamber’) into a nearby rock. So it actually a sort of by product of German military doing manoeuvres, and was actually neither used by the locals nor inhabited.

The story haw this cave got its name is from World War II. Russian soldiers who were prisoners of war in Ban Saint-Jean were able to break out. They found this cave and lived her for some time, the locals provided food out of solidarity. Hence the name Cave of the Russians. They also left some engravings in the cave including names and symbols such as a ship’s anchor.

The grotte is located in the forest and not well signposted, so we recommend using some kind of navigation. The best starting point is the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Securs at Varsberg. From here there are actually two trails, on each side of the valley, so it’s possible to make a round trip of less than 3 km.