Inside the Gouffre de Padirac: what you'll see
The descent, the underground river, the boat trip and the great chambers, in order.
The visit unfolds as a journey deeper and deeper into the earth. Here is what you'll see, in the order you'll see it, so you know what to look for.
The descent and the galleries
You begin at the rim of the open chasm — 35 metres across and about 75 metres deep — and descend by lift and stairway into the cool air below. At the bottom you walk through galleries carved by the underground river, 103 metres beneath the plateau, towards the landing stage.
The boat trip and beyond
A boatman-guide poles you along the still, clear river, beneath the Grande Pendeloque — a single vast stalactite hanging over the Lac de la Pluie — and past walls that vanish upward into the dark.
Past the water you continue on foot into the largest chambers, where rimstone dams hold terraced pools and the roof soars to the height of a cathedral. Then you return to the surface by lift.
Frequently asked
Is the boat trip included?
Yes — the guided boat trip on the underground river is part of every ticket.
How big are the chambers?
The largest vaults soar to roughly the height of a cathedral — the Grand Dôme is among the tallest.