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The unusually large range of crystals and rock formations of the Gouffre Geante de Cabrespine is carefully protected.
Translated the name means giant Chasm of Cabrespine. It was first discovered in the 1970s and is one of the largest caves in the world that is open to the public.
The cave is 150 meters long and almost 300 meters high. The cave has been open to the public since 1988 and a small fee will take you on a guided tour. The cave that tourists visit is as deep as the Eiffel tower is tall.
The tourists enter the chamber near the top, to fully appreciate the depth and all the beautiful formations this chamber of the cave has to offer... |
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Specialities
Like most of the great caves, Gouffre Géant de Cabrespine was carved out by waters through the limestone massif.
The river of La Clamoux disappears just before the exit of the village of Cabrespine, and nearly during 10 months per year, downstream, it only becomes a pebble river since the water flows into the Gouffre, to the great displeasure of the inhabitants of the villages located downstream who had deplored this capture of water since the Middle Ages.Popular legends had it that waters used to flow out above Lastours, at the resurgence of Le Prestil. A proof of this is the fact that ducks crossing the underground river had disappeared near Gaougnas would have appeared again in the water currents close to the Cathar Castles of Lastours.
Aude - D 250
The history of Grotte de Limousis goes back to the mists of time. It was a shelter under the rock used by both prehistoric men and Cave Bears. It has always been a refuge for men.
Cabrespine
3,2 km from Trausse
5,6 km from Citou
5,5 km from Villeneuve Minervois
6,9 km from Cabrespine
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Opening Gouffre Géant de Cabrespine:
- Departure of visits, July -
August:
10.15am / 11am / 11.45am / 12.30pm / 1.15pm / 2pm
- Afternoon: regular departures from 2pm to 6pm (last departure)
- Departure of visits, April, May, June and September :
10.30am / 11.30am – 2.30pm / 3.30pm / 4.30pm / 5.30pm
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Departure of visits, March and October:
2.30pm / 3.30pm / 4.30pm / 5.30pm
- Open Sundays and bank holidays
- Departure of visits November: 2.30pm / 3.30pm / 4.30pm
- Closed day(s): January - February and December
Equipments and Services: |
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* Parking
* Shop
* Individual guided tours |
* Groups accepted
* Bar
* Group guided tours |
Roquefère
Cascade de Cubserviès
Pradelles-Cabardès
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Le Coumbo Falgouzo |
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 The Montagne Noire situated between sea and mountains, is a region full of character, where the Atlantic and Mediterranean influences meets each other.
Accessible from Carcassonne, take the D201 and from Conques sur Orbiel the D101 via Lastours. Continue through Mas-Cabardès to l'église de Saint-Pierre de Vals (Parking 2) or La Tourette-Cabardès (Parking 1 very limited) on the outskirts of the village on a corner near the laundry.
The best discoveries are those that are done on foot.... mule paths carved side valleys, crossing streams, crossing the moors of purple heather or simply treading the carpet sheets autumn in the forest châtaigniers.
Le path is the thread, the one who guides and reassures. It's along the way that we find traces of men and women who have to live this country: historical and religious ubiquitous, more intimate, the huts, bridges, cross and streams, sometimes enigmatic stones that dug wells...
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Randonnée Les Quatre
Châteaux de Lastours |
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This little walk of an hour is suitable for the whole family. The path leads along the four castles and the Belvedere with its beautiful views. Walk is doable and marked and starts in Lastours.
In the heart of the Montagne Noire, 15 km from Carcassonne formed four medieval castles the castle of Cabaret. The site is strategically located on the road from Narbonne to Spain. The castles have been included since 1905 in the list of Historical Monuments. The oldest known remains date back to the Bronze Age, around 1500 BC. In a cave has been found the grave of a girl nicknamed "Princess with the necklace". Her body was covered with objects including amber beads and jewelery from the Mycenaean and Egyptian art. Since the Middle Ages, Lastours is an exceptional property which is built at 300 meters altitude, on top of a rocky promontory. For the Crusades against the Cathars, there were three castles on the site of Lastours (Cabaret, Surdespine and Querthinheux), but under a different form than what they look like now...
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Gouffre Géant de Cabrespine |
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Leisure - Caves, Gorges, Springs and Waterfalls |
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Gouffre Géant de Cabrespine
11160 CABRESPINE |
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Phone1 +33 4.68.26.14.22
Phone2 +33 4.68.26.14.20
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cabrespine11@orange.fr
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www.gouffre-de-cabrespine.com |
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Child rate: 6.90 € to 9.90 €
Adult rate: 11.60 € |
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Les Lamas de la Montagne Noire |
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Near Castans you find 'Les Lama's de la Montagne Noire', a
lama farm where you can rent a lama to carry your luggage when you should decide
to walk through the mountains on foot for a few days. The lama farm is usually
open throughout the year. Discovering the lama, its gentle behaviour and
adaptation to a medium altitude mountain habitat. Pre-booked guided visits
available...
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Situated in the former school of the small village of LESPINASSIERE at the heart of the Black mountain, the Auberge " Les Ardeillès " Labeled as "Cafe du Pays" is also a small shop(shopkeeping) multiservices where you will find local products. And you can appreciate(estimate) theme evenings there. A warm welcome, a traditional cooking(kitchen) of country(soil), Plates abundantly to prepare carefully And an unstoppable view(sight) on the Black Mountain...
Inhale(Breathe)! You are in the Inn Of Ardeillès!!
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The history of Grotte de Limousis goes back to the mists
of time. It was a shelter under the rock used by both prehistoric men and Cave
Bears. It has always been a refuge for men. Fancy a bit of freshness? We invite
you to discover the cave Limousis, 20 kilometers northeast of Carcassonne and
penetrate into the bowels of the earth. Discovered in 1811, the cave, carved by
a river has been electrified and fitted in 1935. However, it was modernized in
1973 to its current appearance. The eighth and final room contains a unique
mineral formation, a chandelier of aragonite to 4 meters high and 10 meters in
circumference, a real treasure...
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Restaurant
Le Puits du Trésor |
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Restaurant Le Puits du Trésor is created by a young and
promising Chef, Jean Marc Boyer. He took this rather risky bet in 2002: open a
gourmet restaurant in a somewhat isolated place. And he turned it into a
success! When you taste the cuisine here now, see the place that is modern and
traditional all in one go you clearly see it. The cuisine is refined, delicated,
generous, a cuisine that has gourmets from around here and elsewhere coming in
great numbers. This is a promising address that has more than one trick in store
for you! A well of flavours and scents that we encourage you to discover close
to Lastours. With a modern and elegant décor, le Puits du Trésor offers a great
moment of gourmet communion. The compositions are often renewed to surprise you
and charm you several times...
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Les Quatre Châteaux de Lastours |
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Built on the top of bedrock at 300m above sea level, the four towers of the site of Lastours (Cabaret, Tour Régine, and Surdespine Quertinheux) proudly dominate the course of Orbiel (the river of olive trees) and the torrent Grésilhou in a wild landscape bristling with cypress. Lock Cabardès since the early Middle Ages, they controlled one of the main pathways in the Cabardès and the Black Mountain and took all their importance at the time of the crusade against the Albigensians. Archaeological excavations carried out since 1980 under the direction of Marie-Elise Gardel, have helped to uncover the medieval village of Cabaret, the Mecca of Catharism and the resistance against the Crusader armies. This ancient fortified settlement called " Castrum ", consisted of a hundred houses and many forges. These places were abandoned abruptly without the inhabitants were able to take any object...
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Located in the Cabarde Region, on the lower slopes of the Montagne Noire, in an area steeped in the history of the Cathares, this restaurant features a wood-burning oven and massive amounts of well prepared food. The apertif tray, which may be ordered as the first course, has to be seen to be believed. Roquefère is one of the 100 most beautiful villages of France...
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Aventures Parc -
Gouffre Géant de Cabrespine |
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Unique!
For the cave addicts, an acrobatic course located at the foot of the great hall of the Gouffre Giant Cabrespine. View the cliff of the 80-meter-high iron staircase, before you enter the big discovery line, to reach the zipline of fear of heights and you will reach an acrobatic bridge 40 meters above the void on the pearl platform. After a visit to the sanctuary of bats, a Nepalese bridge will allow you to dominate the bottom of the large hall of the Gouffre. For the bravest of you, try the ultimate experience with the zipline of hell and jump 90 m above the vacuum to reach the great petrified waterfall with a total height of 120m. The lower part of the Gouffre Giant of Cabrespine is home to nearly 25 km of galleries, much of which is traversed by a majestic underground river also called the secret river. A new exploration formula called "Rivière Souterraine" will allow you to follow the trail of first explorers...
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