- Grotte des Demoiselles
The Grotte des Demoiselles is a large cave located in the
Hérault valley of southernFrance , nearGanges , about 60 km (38 mi) east ofNîmes .History
Many legends and stories have been linked with the cave, the existence of which has been common knowledge in the
Languedoc region since time immemorial. The best known legend tells of a shepherd looking for a lost lamb who wandered into the swallow hole that marked the entrance to the cave. He heard the lamb but could not see it, and so he continued deeper and deeper into the cave, until he reached the chamber now known as the "cathédrale" (cathedral). With only a torch for light, he slipped and fell to the bottom of the chamber (a 60-metre plunge betweenstalactite s andstalagmite s). Knocked senseless by the shock, he noticed—just before passing out—a group of young ladies dancing and singing around him. When he woke up, he was back on the surface with his lamb. The modern name of the cave, "Grotte des Demoiselles" (“maidens' grotto”) reflects this legend; previously it had been known as the "Grotte des Fées" (“fairies' grotto”).At various times in history the cave has also served as a hiding place and refuge.
In
1889 , more serious exploration of the cave was undertaken by the renowned speleologistÉdouard-Alfred Martel . At the time, visiting the cave was quite perilous, but in1931 afunicular , concrete stairs and walkways with sturdy railings and extensive electric lighting were installed to make it accessible to the general public; and since then it has been a popular regional tourist attraction.Formation of the cave
The Grotte des Demoiselles is thought to have initially been formed by the collapse of overlying
limestone , made fragile by watererosion . However, some doubt remains as to the source of the water: it may have been an underground stream that has now disappeared, or it may have been a stream that is now about 300 metres (980 years) lower, although no link with the latter has been discovered thus far.ee also
*
List of caves External links
* [http://www.demoiselles.com La Grotte des Demoiselles] Official site (in French)
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