With the heatwave, it’s the perfect time to explore… underground (and yes, that’s where it’s coolest). Even if the air-conditioning in sports halls and restaurants is enough, we suggest a slightly more exotic excursion! With a constant temperature of around 10°C all year round, visiting a cave is the perfect way to cool off while discovering fascinating places. They’re mysterious , impressive, steeped in history and brimming with unique geological formations. And you’re in luck: there’s no shortage of caves around Lyon! In fact, there are some real natural wonders waiting for you, each more spectacular than the last! So, are you ready to explore?
1. Grottes de la Balme, Isère
This is surely the best-known cave around Lyon, but also one of the most incredible! Located just 45 minutes from Lyon, Les Grottes de la Balme is an incredible site that promises a spectacular visit. You can either take a guided tour or go it alone. If you choose the second option, explanatory panels will guide you all the way! Cavities, concretions, stalactites, stalagmites and even bats will fill you with wonder throughout the visit! A special highlight is the end of the tour, where you can venture into a labyrinth! (Be careful, it’s quite narrow).
📍 Grottes de la Balme, Rue des Grottes, 38390 La Balme-les-Grottes
2. Grottes du Cerdon, Ain
Just 1 hour from Lyon, the Grottes du Cerdon are also a must for Lyon’s outings. The caves are simply magnificent, and for the more adventurous among you, you can enjoy a magnificent view from the Belvedere. If you feel like climbing a steep slope at the end, you’ll have a breathtaking view of the Cerdon valley! It’s also worth noting that the Grottes du Cerdon are part of a prehistoric activity park, and it’s possible to combine a visit to the caves with these activities! Fire, pottery, excavations… There’s plenty for the whole family to do!
📍 Grottes du Cerdon, Labalme, 01450 Ps: Labalme in a nutshell!
3. Grotte de Choranche – Grotte de Gournier, Isère
Grotte de Choranche is a little further from Lyon than the last two, yet the 1h50 drive will soon be forgotten as you enter one of the most beautiful caves you’ll ever see. Grotte de Choranche is surely one of the most beautiful caves in the area, and for good reason: waterfalls, torrents, lakes, small cave animals (cavernicoles?), and a little sound and light show at the end… It’s sure to be one of the most unforgettable visits in the Lyon area!
A little extra: You can visit Grotte de Gournier by parking in the Grotte de Choranche parking lot. Enter the Grotte de Choranche enclosure up to the entrance (you don’t normally need to pay here), pass the WC and take the little path, which is well signposted, down to the lake! (itinerary indicated by an Internet user).
📍Grotte de Choranche, 2865 route des grottes, 38680 Choranche
4. Grotte de Thaïs and Bateau à Roue, Drome
Around 1h30 from Lyon, the Grotte de Thaïs is also a little gem of a cave to visit at least once! A guided tour is highly recommended, as the guides will tell you all about the prehistoric history of the place! A real labyrinth under the village of Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans, lasting around 1 hour! We recommend combining a visit to the cave with a cruise aboard the paddle-steamer ! A breathtaking view of the aqueduct and the Vercors countryside guaranteed!
📍 Grotte de Thaïs, 2-3 place des fontaines de Thaïs, 26190 Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans
5. Grottes de Saint-Christophe, Savoie
1h15 from Lyon, Les Grottes de Saint-Christophe (or Grottes des Echelles) are nestled in the Chartreuse and offer breathtaking panoramas. There are two caves to visit, one smaller than the other. The most impressive part of the visit, however, is the footpaths you have to take along the walls, via footbridges, to reach the second cave: breathtaking scenery guaranteed! Also, not far from here is the famous and breathtaking Via Sarde! If you’re a lover of beautiful walks and hikes, this is the path for you!
📍3796 Route de Chambéry, 73360 Saint-Christophe
6. Grotte de Blanot, Saône-Et-Loire
Ready for a trip to the center of the Earth? The Grotte de Blanot takes you deep into its bowels, 80 meters below the surface! A maze of galleries, mysterious rooms, cavities and concretions in an intriguing abyss you’ll love to plunge into. But be careful: going down means coming back up! The highlight of this grotto is the “caving atmosphere” exit, where you can sneak into nooks and crannies of the cave that can only be visited during this activity!
📍Fougnieres, 71250 Blanot
7. Grotte d’Orjobet, Haute-Savoie
La Grotte d’Orjobet is the only one open to the public, and for good reason: it’s a passageway on a hike from the foot of Mont Salève. Close to Geneva and therefore around 2 hours from Lyon, this hike is for the more experienced among us, as it is quite steep and sometimes passes through very steep paths on the mountainside. However, it’s well worth the effort, with its panoramic views and gorges… In short, a must-do for sporty types!
📍Hike departs from Collonges-sous-Salève (74160) or Le Coin. For those who don’t want to climb ALL the way up, the Sentier can be made up quite often.
8. Grotte de Glace, Montenvers
The Grotte de Glace is surely one of the must-sees of this selection. A real tourist attraction in the Chamonix area, it is usually combined with a visit to the mer de glace and a ride on the little red train. It’s a real little gem that has to be earned! To reach it, you’ll have to take the gondola from the Montenvers station and go down (then up) more than 430 steps. But like all of nature’s jewels, it has to be earned! Ice sculptures and icy walls like you’ve never seen before! Breathtaking!
📍Take the little red train from Chamonix to Montenvers, then the gondola. See other options here