Gouffre de Proumeyssac

Cathedral of Crystal

Useful Information

Location:	Route de Proumeyssac, 24260 Audrix Le Bugue. Audrix, 3.5 km south of Bugue, 8 km south west of Les Eyzies. From Le Bugue cross the Vezere river on D31e1, turn left into Route de Proumeyssac and follow it to the cave, signposted. (44.8907447, 0.9347111)
Open:	FEB daily 14-17. MAR daily 10-12, 14-17. APT to JUN daily 9:30-18. JUL to AUG daily 9-19. SEP tp 27-SEP daily 9:30-18. 28-SEP to 16-OCT daily 10-12, 14-17. 17-OCT to 01-NOV daily 9:30-17:30. 02-NOV to 18-DEC daily 14-17. 19-DEC to 03-JAN daily 10:30-11:30, 14:30-17. Closed on 25-DEC, 01-JAN. [2026]
Fee:	NOV to MAR: Adults EUR 13.60, Children (12-17) EUR 11.40, Children (4-11) EUR 9.90, Children (0-3) free, Disabled EUR 11.40, Disabled Children (4-18) EUR 8.30. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 10.60, School Pupils EUR 6.50. Gondola descent: Adults EUR 23.70, Children (12-17) EUR 21.40, Children (4-11) EUR 17.60. APR to OCT: Adults EUR 14.60, Children (12-17) EUR 12.40, Children (4-11) EUR 10.40, Children (0-3) free, Disabled EUR 12.40, Disabled Children (4-18) EUR 8.80. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 10.60, School Pupils EUR 6.50. Gondola descent: Adults EUR 24.70, Children (12-17) EUR 22.40, Children (4-11) EUR 18.60. [2026]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:	VR=50 m, T=14 °C.
Guided tours:	D=60 min.
Photography:	not allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	B. Pierret (1953): Le Périgord souterrain, Leymarie, Montignac, 161 pp
Address:	Gouffre de Proumeyssac, Route de Proumeyssac, 24260 Audrix Le Bugue, Tel: +33-553-072747. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1907	discovered by Gabriel Galou digging a well.
1924-1952	cave could only be entered by being lowered in a barrel.
1956	artificial tunnel dug which enters the main chamber half way up.

Description

The Gouffre de Proumeyssac (Proumeyssac Pothole) is actually a hole in the ground, which was known for a long time. The cave consists of a chamber 60 m by 40 m with a huge boulder pile in the centre. As well as numerous concretions and triangular shaped crystals, there are countless speleothems adorning the walls of the immense vault. That’s the reason why it was dubbed the Cathédrale de Cristal (Cathedral of Crystal, Crystal Cathedral). Four petrifying fountains covered with flowing water are used for covering various decorative items with a layer of calcite, which are then sold at the shop.

The huge hole in the ground was known for a long time, but never entered. With the historism and romanticism of the 19th century the darkest legends about the cave were created. The first time explorers abseiled into the cave was in 1907, when the equipment for this finally existed. After the cave with its great speleothems had been discovered there was the idea to open it to the public. But the abyss made this impossible. From 1924 tours were offered which started with a descent from the natural entrance to the floor of the chamber in a Gondola, a sort of round plate with a railing and a funny roof. Its unclear if the roof was actually for dripping water or simply decoration. It is also called a barrel sometimes, probably a reference for earlier versions of the gondola. The gondola was lowered from a plateau which was built into the natural entrance and quite safe. The movement was first powered by a horse, there was a horse-powered winch as it was common in mining before the steam engine. As this was in the mid 20th century, we guess it was simply the cheapest way of moving the gondola. The old gondola was pulled by a rope, which was often twisted and as a result it turned the gondola around offering a great 360 view.

In 1956 an artificial entrance tunnel was built which allowed much more visitors. Large groups were now able to enter the cave, which is especially during July and August, the main summer season, reducing the queues massively. This is called the Classic Tour for unknown reasons, as actually the gondola is the original way of visiting the cave.

Today it is possible to make the descent into the cave in the new gondola which was rebuilt using modern technology. The rotating was stopped by this modern technology, as the gondola is now hanging on four ropes. But as the people were quite fond of this feature, it was replaced by the rotating floor of the gondola. This is actually the same tour, entering the cave by the tunnel is replaced by the downlift on the gondola. The number is restricted to 11 and there is an additional fee.

The tours start regularly at the ticket office, depending on demand. The entry through the tunnel is wheelchair accessible, and it is possible to visit a small part of the cave by wheelchair. But there are many steps so it is not possible to visit the regular path. The tours are in French only, there are audioguides in various other languages.