Between the Basque Country and Béarn, in the heart of the limestone mountains of Haute-Soule and Barétous, the La Verna cave, discovered in 1953, is an exceptional geological site with extraordinary dimensions, measuring 240 meters in diameter and 194 meters in height.
It is probably the largest underground chamber open to the public and lit in the world.
There are three different tours available
La Verna Discovery offers a classic one-hour tour of the chamber. Accompanied by a state-certified caving guide, you will leave the developed area for an underground hike, walking off-trail over scree, following in the footsteps of the pioneers. Some passages require the use of your hands. Take your first steps as an explorer in the mythical abyss of Pierre Saint-Martin, with the Verna illuminated throughout your visit.
The Verna river is divided into two parts. In the first, a 660-meter horizontal artificial tunnel allows you to walk into this enormous cavern, which is gradually revealed by lighting. The tour is guided and narrated along a secure route.
The theme of the tour is the extraordinary human adventure of exploring a huge chasm in the heart of the Pierre Saint Martin limestone massif.
In the second part, you take a long staircase carved into the rock and scree (80 irregular steps), which allows you to access the river. You will discover a panoramic view of the chamber, the SHEM water intake, and the plaque in memory of Marcel Loubens. Since 2019, the installation of two footbridges has allowed you to cross the river and discover the large upstream gallery where the first explorers arrived in 1953.
La Verna exploration: Accompanied by a state-certified caving guide, you will leave the developed area for an underground hike, walking off-trail over scree, following in the footsteps of the pioneers. Some passages require the use of your hands. Take your first steps as an explorer in the legendary Pierre Saint-Martin chasm, with the Verna cave highlighted during your visit.
We strongly recommend that you dress warmly, as the temperature is 5 degrees Celsius underground, and wear sturdy shoes.
Arrakotchepia reception area
Bourg
64560 Sainte-Engrâce
Tel.: +33 (0)9 75 17 75 66 & +33 (0)5 59 28 02 37
