Bétharram caves
| Bétharram caves
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| Location: | Hautes-Pyrénées , Occitania , France | |
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Geographic location: |
43 ° 5 '59 " N , 0 ° 11' 37" E | |
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| Type: | Stalactite cave | |
| Website: | www.betharram.com | |
The Bétharram Caves ( Grottes de Bétharram ) are located on the border of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées departments in France .
location
The cave system is located near the Gave de Pau river in the municipalities of Lestelle-Bétharram and Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre, about 15 kilometers from Lourdes . Access is in Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre.
history
The caves were discovered in 1810. In 1888 it was researched by members of the French Alpine Club from Pau . 5200 m of underground corridors have been discovered, 2.5 kilometers of which are open to tourists. In 1903 the cave was electrically lit and opened to the public. It is one of the oldest accessible cave systems and is the largest of its kind in France. It can be visited on five floors, at a height difference of 80 m, by train, boat and on foot. The temperature in the cave is a constant 13 ° C.
gallery
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Web link
- Website of the cave (French, German, English)