The Caves at Courniou Tarn(81)

[Widge]

We went to the caves at Courniou

The Palace of Glass Spinner · Espace Découverte du Milieu Souterrain, 34220 Courniou, France

★★★★★ · Tourist attraction

maps.app.goo.gl

last Saturday first time for about 13 years, a very good visit 11€ for adults and 6€ for kids.

The website
https://lafileusedeverre.fr/
Does say to reserve you tour on line, which is probably a good idea as they can get busy, but i cannot imagine if you just turned up and they had spaces they would stop you going on the tour.

Just a warning, lots of steps you decend 30m and climb 60m during the tour but it is a relaxed pace, the main flight of steps going up has a small resting place if anyone needs to sit, although often wet, the steps are in good condition, there are also a few places where you have to watch your head

I guess the tour is roughly 1h, our tour took 1h10, the tour is in french but you do get an english crib sheet, which is a little difficult to read in the caves, if you have a small red light you can take, that would be ideal, a phone is a little bright, it is also probably a good idea to have a quick read through it before going into the caves.

Although the tour was in french the guide did speak english and was happy to answer questions.

There is a small part of the caves that has unfortunately been removed from the tour due to damage from constant visitors but there is plenty to see.

After you exit the caves there is a nature walk you can follow i have never done it so i cannot comment on what it is like, but it is open to anyone not just cave visitors.

Back at the visitor center there is a small cinema room, we were the only ones who bothered to go which was a shame, it showed about a ten minute program.

The commentary was in french but the visual was a slide show of pictures not only of these caves but others in the national park that are not open to the general public.

All the pictures were in 3D and 3D glasses were available.

A basic cafe selling hot and cold drinks, paninis and ice cream.

It can get a little busy in the summer but it is a nice escape from the hot weather, it is 12C in the caves so i would suggest a sweat shirt or something.
Some pictures below, but plenty more here if you are interested.

Caves – Google Drive

drive.google.com

 

[suavecarve]

We had lunch outside these caves last week (twice).
Closed for lunch on both occasions.
It is on the passa pais cycle route and plenty of parking for motorhomes.
I had quite a good chat with the tourist information lady somewhere along the voie verte and she was enthused by these caves.
Having read up on them if it weren't for lunch we would have definitely gone in.

Thank you

 

[Widge]

We had lunch outside these caves last week (twice).
Closed for lunch on both occasions.
It is on the passa pais cycle route and plenty of parking for motorhomes.
I had quite a good chat with the tourist information lady somewhere along the voie verte and she was enthused by these caves.
Having read up on them if it weren't for lunch we would have definitely gone in.

Thank you

I think they are only open on weekends at the moment, but come the summer they should be open during the week as well.

I know you are putting together a log of your trip and map etc, feel free to use any of my post or pictures if you want.

 

[suavecarve]

I think they are only open on weekends at the moment, but come the summer they should be open during the week as well.

I know you are putting together a log of your trip and map etc, feel free to use any of my post or pictures if you want.

Shamelessly stolen and added to the journal with thanks

 

[rb62]

If your ever in the Cevenne / Grand Causses area the Aven Armand caves are worth a visit,and there's a finicular to the bottom

Aven Armand cave | From Aubrac to the Gorges du Tarn

Discover the famous Aven Armand and let yourself be guided through a forest of over 400 stalagmites, the only one of its kind in the world, for an unforgettable

www.aubrac-gorgesdutarn.com

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[Widge]

Shamelessly stolen and added to the journal with thanks

That includes photos on the google drive, i couldn't realy see what i was adding to the post, there are probably much better ones there.