The Gouffre de Padirac

What the Gouffre de Padirac is

The chasm is a great round hole in the limestone plateau, or causse, near the village of Padirac in the Lot. It is more than 30 metres across, and from the rim you look straight down into it.

It was first explored in 1889 by Édouard-Alfred Martel, the French cave pioneer, and opened to visitors at the end of the 1890s. Far below the surface, an underground river runs for many kilometres through the rock before reaching the Dordogne near the Cirque de Montvalent. Only a small part of the explored network, a couple of kilometres, is open to visitors.

A visit takes you down to 103 metres below ground, by lift or by stairs, and then along walkways to a landing stage. From there a boatman takes you in a small, flat boat along the river, past the Lac de la Pluie (the Rain Lake), where a stalactite about 60 metres long, the Grande Pendeloque, hangs above the water. Back on foot, you continue to the Salle du Grand Dôme, a cavern whose vault rises 94 metres. An audio guide in several languages is provided on arrival.

Visiting tips

Book online, for a set day and time. The chasm is very popular and summer is often fully booked. If you know which day you’ll be walking past, book your tickets in advance on the official site. Tickets can also be bought on the day at the ticket office, subject to availability, but don’t count on it in July and August.

Bring a warm layer. The temperature at the bottom stays at about 13°C all year, whatever the weather on the causse. After a warm day’s walk it feels cool, so pack a fleece or light jacket.

Wear sensible shoes, and pack a waterproof if it has been raining. The ground underground is damp, and water drips from the roof after rain. Your walking shoes are ideal.

Expect steps. There are lifts, but you still climb several steps once you reach the bottom. The local tourist office describes the visit as only partly accessible, and hard going for anyone with reduced mobility.

Dogs can’t go in. Pets aren’t allowed in the chasm. If your dog is walking with you, you’ll need to take turns, or plan to see the chasm from the rim.

Photos. You can take photos and videos without flash on the walkways, but not on the boat trip. Selfie sticks aren’t allowed.

Season and opening times. The chasm is open from spring until early November and closed in winter. Opening dates and hours change every year, so check the official site for the dates of your holiday.

Food and drink. There are cafés and picnic areas at the site, which makes it a natural lunch stop on a walking day.

Grandchildren. Pushchairs aren’t allowed, so bring a baby carrier for small children.

How long a visit takes

Allow about an hour and a half for the visit itself, from going down into the chasm to coming back up. Add time for queuing at the lifts in busy periods and for lunch, and it’s sensible to set aside two hours or a little more.

On a walking day, choose a time slot that leaves you enough daylight and energy to walk on to Loubressac afterwards. Your luggage is moved to the next hotel for you, so you only carry a day pack.

Which holidays go there

Walking

France’s Most Beautiful Villages

8 days · from £965 per person, sharing a double/twin room

Day 6: Carennac to Loubressac, 15.5 km (9.6 miles). You walk up over the causse from Carennac to the Gouffre de Padirac, then on to Loubressac, perched on its clifftop. The next day has optional circular walks to the Château de Castelnau and Autoire. Note that this holiday starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only.

Walking

Exploring Rocamadour

8 days · from £975 per person, sharing a double/twin room

Day 5: Rocamadour to Loubressac. After two nights in Rocamadour, you follow the Combe Molière valley to Padirac and its underground river, then sandy paths to Loubressac, where you stay two nights with a circular walk on day 6. On day 7 you walk on to Carennac.

Entrance to the chasm isn’t included in the holiday price, as with châteaux, caves and museums on all our holidays.