1h from Lyon, Geneva and Annecy, in the department of Ain
Depending on the calendar or if you do not want to wait for the guided tour, download our audioguide from your home on your smartphone and choose the non guided visit.
This visit is recommended for groups of less than 8 people who wish to visit at their own rhythm or for families with young children.
Children are the responsibility of the parents. Everyone must respect the path of the visit and not touch the concretions.
- Consult the opening days and time slots offered.
- Download our "Grottes du Cerdon" audioguide on your phone before coming and plan your earphones if possible.
- Go to the reception of the site to get an entry password to access to the cave.
- Access the cave entrance via an underground path and explore this strange world at your own pace. You will walk between stalactites and stalagmites to emerge under a majestic porch which will allow you to choose:
- to join the snack & ticket reception, or
- continue to a belvedere in the middle of the cliff overlooking the Cerdon vineyard (return on your steps to the large porch).
This last section, which gives access to the belvedere, has a greater drop, not recommended for people who do not wish to make an ascent effort.
Extend your day in the great outdoors and opt for the Combined ticket (visit of the Caves and prehistoric workshops) to learn about the gestures and know-how of our ancestors.
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Can we visit the caves alone ?
You can opt for a self-guided tour (reserved for groups of less than 8 people). Children are the responsibility of parents or carers. It is forbidden to leave the main path and touch the concretions. Download the audio guide on your phone
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Why a 2-part visit?
- The main part corresponds to the concreted gallery and the path constitutes a loop with departure and arrival at the reception of the site. For people ready for an additional ascent effort, it is possible, at the end of the upper gallery overlooking the large room, to continue independently to the belvedere. This overlooks the Cerdon’s valley and its vineyards.
- This second part with a higher elevation and therefore on the initiative of each and own rhythm.
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Are there many stairs in the Caves?
- The tour of the caves is divided into 2 parts (see the sectional plan):
- Part 1: the 800-meter-long upper gallery corresponds to an elevation gain of approximately 5 floors to descend gradually. It has several stops to take advantage of the premises.
- Part 2: The large room and the old siphon which leads to the belvedere overlooking the Cerdon’s valley and its vineyard.
- This second section extends the visit circuit by around 400 meters with an additional elevation equivalent to approximately 5 floors. After a break on the belvedere to admire the Cerdon’s valley, the ascent takes place at your own rhythm to the reception.