Grotte Forestière. "Visitez Autrement Sans Guide et Sans Réservation"
Labastide-de-Virac
Presentation
Without a guide and without booking, a self-guided, peaceful tour among fine crystallizations and tree roots unique in Europe. Powerful headlamps are provided to light up the easy, safe course. Available: Golf, Games, Karts...
We are Virginie and Nicolas, speleologists by profession and passion, and we welcome you with kindness in a family atmosphere, to offer you a Slow tourism concept at the heart of an ecological site in the middle of the forest, 800 metres from the main roads. Parking at the entrance, no approach walk.
The fact that you are not accompanied by a guide means that you can benefit from a lower entrance fee than usual, as there are fewer costs for us, but it also and above all means that you can experience something very different from what you are used to. The Forestière cave is the first cave in the world to be fitted out without any electrical cables, in order to be plunged back into its natural darkness, so that the wildlife can return to its natural environment. So, of course, we provide you with lighting, but it is not a giant blindfold game. On the other hand, we offer a treasure hunt for children aged 6 to 14, so that they can receive a stone as a gift.
Imagine having the chance to discover the cave, without age limits, with your family or as a couple, without a guide and without booking. Being in a fascinating natural environment, but with simple safety measures such as the path laid out on the ground and the barriers. No special shoes are needed, even though it is preferable that they are closed. From babies to parents, grandparents and pets, of company, the route is facilitated by its horizontality and the low number of steps (about sixty in both directions).
Equipped with powerful professional headlamps (provided from the age of 3) to discover the roots of centuries-old trees unique in Europe and the soils covered with fine crystalline formations (cauliflowers) that resemble the coral reefs that fascinate us with their originality. Of course you can also contemplate the stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, gours, and excentrics, but the presence of crystalline cauliflowers on the ground is so abundant that it gives the impression of an aquatic environment. In addition, the cave is alive because the crystalline formations are still growing.
The average duration of the visit is one hour. In all the caves, the guide is responsible for the duration and if he were to walk without stopping, you would all be out in 20 minutes. At La Forestière, you are responsible for the quality of your visit and to stay for more than 20 minutes, you just have to follow the following advice: contemplate, read the information panels, take photos, sit down to relax, meditate and make the round trip (because the landscape changes completely), and by doing so, the time will pass quickly and your visit will be a real success.
We have installed explanatory panels along the route to share knowledge, but what we really want to share with this new concept of visit is the feeling that can be experienced underground, the feeling of being enveloped, protected and indeed 100% of the claustrophobics who came here to accompany their family thinking they would stay on the surface, trusted us and went down into the cave, managing to overcome their fear. What happiness could be seen on their faces...
The proximity to the crystals is incredible, but it requires absolute respect for the extremely fragile natural environment. We remind you that the law severely punishes anyone who picks up or breaks crystallisation and that the cave is of course monitored.
Photography is allowed, the site allows for magnificent photos and videos and the lamps respect the colours to ensure the best shots. (the legend of the flash damaging the crystallisation is buried with the guides!).
On the surface, the Forestière offers you the opportunity to keep the children fully occupied (and the parents too), to free up time to play or rest (hammocks and sofas in the shade). Allow time for the children to accept the idea of leaving, to avoid desperate cries.
The free activities offered with the cave tour: Mini-Golf with 12 courses in the shade, pedal karting circuit (models for children and adults), eccentric huts, sandbox games (mechanical diggers), balance bikes, scooters, children’s bikes, wooden games for all ages and many other things. Simple games like those of the past. The site offers a space for relaxation and many people stay there all day.
The additional activities at low prices: the crystal hunters’ river (an exciting new activity to discover crystals with a gold prospector’s dredge and a small artificial stream), but also workshops such as fossil, mineral, geode and bracelet hunters, which are available all day without booking.
You can have a picnic at one of the many tables in the shade and for those with an empty stomach at 4 pm, we have created a sweet snack bar that offers waffles, organic ice cream... and local beers and fruit juices.
For collectors, a mineral and fossil shop that is attractive for the quality of its products and its ethics (the minerals come from regulated quarries), with prices that are often much lower than those of online sales sites.
Sumithra carefully makes therapeutic bead bracelets with various positive virtues. It is also possible to create your own bracelet by choosing the beads from a wide selection on offer.
Finally, confirmed walkers and Sunday walkers can set off to discover beautiful places by hiking from the site. There are dolmens, cave entrances and avens, but above all, the spectacular Ronze cave, a partially collapsed cave (free) with an open sky, easily accessible thanks to Google map (40 minutes round trip).
Every year we invest in new activities, so we invite you to visit our website to find out about the 2026 novelties: www.grotteavenforestiere.fr
The fact that you are not accompanied by a guide means that you can benefit from a lower entrance fee than usual, as there are fewer costs for us, but it also and above all means that you can experience something very different from what you are used to. The Forestière cave is the first cave in the world to be fitted out without any electrical cables, in order to be plunged back into its natural darkness, so that the wildlife can return to its natural environment. So, of course, we provide you with lighting, but it is not a giant blindfold game. On the other hand, we offer a treasure hunt for children aged 6 to 14, so that they can receive a stone as a gift.
Imagine having the chance to discover the cave, without age limits, with your family or as a couple, without a guide and without booking. Being in a fascinating natural environment, but with simple safety measures such as the path laid out on the ground and the barriers. No special shoes are needed, even though it is preferable that they are closed. From babies to parents, grandparents and pets, of company, the route is facilitated by its horizontality and the low number of steps (about sixty in both directions).
Equipped with powerful professional headlamps (provided from the age of 3) to discover the roots of centuries-old trees unique in Europe and the soils covered with fine crystalline formations (cauliflowers) that resemble the coral reefs that fascinate us with their originality. Of course you can also contemplate the stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, gours, and excentrics, but the presence of crystalline cauliflowers on the ground is so abundant that it gives the impression of an aquatic environment. In addition, the cave is alive because the crystalline formations are still growing.
The average duration of the visit is one hour. In all the caves, the guide is responsible for the duration and if he were to walk without stopping, you would all be out in 20 minutes. At La Forestière, you are responsible for the quality of your visit and to stay for more than 20 minutes, you just have to follow the following advice: contemplate, read the information panels, take photos, sit down to relax, meditate and make the round trip (because the landscape changes completely), and by doing so, the time will pass quickly and your visit will be a real success.
We have installed explanatory panels along the route to share knowledge, but what we really want to share with this new concept of visit is the feeling that can be experienced underground, the feeling of being enveloped, protected and indeed 100% of the claustrophobics who came here to accompany their family thinking they would stay on the surface, trusted us and went down into the cave, managing to overcome their fear. What happiness could be seen on their faces...
The proximity to the crystals is incredible, but it requires absolute respect for the extremely fragile natural environment. We remind you that the law severely punishes anyone who picks up or breaks crystallisation and that the cave is of course monitored.
Photography is allowed, the site allows for magnificent photos and videos and the lamps respect the colours to ensure the best shots. (the legend of the flash damaging the crystallisation is buried with the guides!).
On the surface, the Forestière offers you the opportunity to keep the children fully occupied (and the parents too), to free up time to play or rest (hammocks and sofas in the shade). Allow time for the children to accept the idea of leaving, to avoid desperate cries.
The free activities offered with the cave tour: Mini-Golf with 12 courses in the shade, pedal karting circuit (models for children and adults), eccentric huts, sandbox games (mechanical diggers), balance bikes, scooters, children’s bikes, wooden games for all ages and many other things. Simple games like those of the past. The site offers a space for relaxation and many people stay there all day.
The additional activities at low prices: the crystal hunters’ river (an exciting new activity to discover crystals with a gold prospector’s dredge and a small artificial stream), but also workshops such as fossil, mineral, geode and bracelet hunters, which are available all day without booking.
You can have a picnic at one of the many tables in the shade and for those with an empty stomach at 4 pm, we have created a sweet snack bar that offers waffles, organic ice cream... and local beers and fruit juices.
For collectors, a mineral and fossil shop that is attractive for the quality of its products and its ethics (the minerals come from regulated quarries), with prices that are often much lower than those of online sales sites.
Sumithra carefully makes therapeutic bead bracelets with various positive virtues. It is also possible to create your own bracelet by choosing the beads from a wide selection on offer.
Finally, confirmed walkers and Sunday walkers can set off to discover beautiful places by hiking from the site. There are dolmens, cave entrances and avens, but above all, the spectacular Ronze cave, a partially collapsed cave (free) with an open sky, easily accessible thanks to Google map (40 minutes round trip).
Every year we invest in new activities, so we invite you to visit our website to find out about the 2026 novelties: www.grotteavenforestiere.fr
General informations
- Services :
- Pets welcome
- Motorhomes allowed
- Visites :
- Average individual visit length (minutes) 60
Equipment & Services
- Leisure facilities :
- Picnic area
- Bar
- Interior facilities :
- Toilets
- Parking :
- Car park
- Parking
- Coach parking
- Private parking
- Equipment :
- Defibrillator
- Shop :
- Shop
- Restaurants :
- Restaurant
- Fast food
Good to know
- Accessibility Criteria for Mental Impairment :
- Mental disability
- Accessible tourism :
- Reception staff sensitized to the reception of people with disabilities
- Not accessible in a wheelchair
Tarifs
| Fares | Min | Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05/04/2026 - 30/11/2026 | |||
| Adult | 12.00€ | 0.00€ |  0 à 5 ans offert / 6 à 14 ans : 8 ? (une chasse aux trésors offerte pour recevoir une pierre en cadeau)
Adulte à partir de 15 ans : 12 ? |
- Payment methods :
- Bank/credit card
- Travellers Cheque
- Cash
Contact
Grotte Forestière. "Visitez Autrement Sans Guide et Sans Réservation"
Col de la forestière / D217
1055 route de l'aven Grotte forestière
07150
Labastide-de-Virac
Phone : +33 4 75 38 63 08
Mob : +33 6 81 59 60 01
- Spoken language(s) :
- English
- French
Destination
Grotte Forestière. "Visitez Autrement Sans Guide et Sans Réservation"
Col de la forestière / D217
1055 route de l'aven Grotte forestière
07150
Labastide-de-Virac
GPS coordinates
Latitude : 44.328418
Longitude : 4.40376
Accessible by car, bus, camper, bike, foot, horse.