Caves - Savoie - Chartreuse - Dauphine

The Ladder Caves (Les Grottes des Echelles)

So called because they are to be found close to the huge set of steps which took people and goods from the valley to the gorge. These steps disappeared when the Sardinian Way was built.

Two caves can be seen from the Sardinian Way : the Upper Cave (guided tours) and the Great Gully.

These caves were formed parallel to the canyon (through which the Sardinian Way runs), and are a result of the same process of erosion. They were carved out by an underground torrent during the Ice Age. They are still active and the erosion has not stopped, because there is occasional flooding in the caves. This form of erosion, which is very widespread in limestone regions, is called karstic erosion.

The Sardinian Way.

The "Upper" Cave
	The upper cave is a natural outlet for the network of underground rivers. It is full of potholes, of huge chambers and fabulous concretions.

Guided tours of the caves are available from April to October (all year round, if prior arrangements are made). To make your visit even more pleasant, the tourist reception and ticket sales are situated in the Cave Inn, an old road-mender's house dating back to when the tunnel was built.

The Second Cave, nicknamed "Great Gully"

The architects of the Sardinian Way, using an idea handed down from the Romans, used this natural conduit as an overflow for the water coming from the upper cave (which explains the existence of the 300 year-old canal which runs alongside the road at its midpoint for over 300 yards).

Legend has it that Mandrin, the famous Dauphiné smuggler, made this cave his home.

The lower part of the cave, called "Grotte du Grand Goulet" (literally "Great Gully Cave") which had been closed for many years, has undergone many important equipment to insure the safety of visitors prior to being open again.
After it was bought from the Tourism Office of "Les Echelles" (this followed an agreement from the Municipal Council), it appeared necessary to completely renovate the footbridge (700 feet).
Under the supervision of Mr Bernard MOREL, Consulting Engineer in St Aupre Le Haut, while always focusing on safety and on time delivery, the ACROBATIC company of Voreppe (led by Mr GIROD-ROUX) performed a renovation of the highest quality.
THis allowed us to proceed with the grand opening on June 29 2002, for the great pleasure of our visitors.