Baume des Pierres

Baume des Pierres is a natural cave in the municipality of Quinson, tucked into the Basses Gorges du Verdon (Lower Verdon Gorges) in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department. It's a good pick for visitors who want to pair a canyon walk with a taste of real caving, away from the crowds drawn to the region's better-known sights.

How do you get to Baume des Pierres?

The starting point is a parking area by the bridge over the Verdon, from which a marked path follows the route of the old Verdon irrigation canal. The trail is unusual in itself: it alternates between short tunnels cut into the rock and open stretches with sweeping views over the gorge. Along the way you pass the former canal keeper's house (maison des gardes), then drop into the Sainte-Maxime valley. From there the path climbs to the 18th-century Sainte-Maxime chapel, once a pilgrimage and hermitage site, before reaching a plateau with a hunting hide. Baume des Pierres sits at the far end of this stretch. The whole route is rated medium difficulty — this isn't a beginner's stroll, and the final approach into the cave itself demands a reasonable level of fitness.

What will you see inside the cave?

Baume des Pierres isn't a shallow grotto — it's a proper cave system with a vertical drop of 22 metres and passages totaling 117 metres. Inside, a sequence of inclined chambers follows the tilt of the rock strata, a result of the cave having formed in limestone within the Gréoux overthrust zone. Notable features include ceiling slabs 1 to 2 metres thick and channels carved into the roof, evidence that water once flowed in from the back of the cave. A visit takes you through two main chambers: the first, roughly 22 metres down, holds standing water, while the second is reached by squeezing through a narrow passage at around 12 metres. The air inside is warm and very humid, and the reduced oxygen level can leave visitors slightly short of breath — worth factoring in when planning how long to stay underground, since a typical visit runs about two hours.

The cave's name first surfaces in the writings of Paul de Peyerimhoff, who also recorded it under the names "baume des Pierres de Malassauque" and "grotte de Malassauque" — a trace of older, local naming for this corner of the Verdon.

It's worth not confusing Baume des Pierres with the far more famous Grotte de la Baume Bonne, also located in Quinson. That site is one of Europe's most significant prehistoric locations, with 400,000 years of evidence of human presence. Baume des Pierres is a separate, much quieter spot — more about landscape and geology than archaeology.

When should you visit, and what should you watch out for?

Spring and autumn are the best seasons: temperatures along the canal path stay mild, and you avoid the harshest heat on the exposed sections in summer. A torch or headlamp is essential for the cave itself — without your own light source, finding your way inside is next to impossible. Given the damp, slippery ground and the need to squeeze through tighter sections, sturdy footwear and some comfort moving through rough terrain are recommended. It's also worth packing a change of warm clothing for after you emerge from the humid interior.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need caving gear to visit Baume des Pierres? This isn't a show cave with facilities, but reaching the second chamber means squeezing through a narrow passage, so flexible, sturdy clothing and comfort in confined spaces help. A torch is non-negotiable.

How long does the full outing take? Time spent inside the cave itself is usually around two hours. Add the approach along the old Verdon canal path and through the Sainte-Maxime valley, and the whole trip can stretch several hours longer, depending on pace and stops at the chapel and viewpoints.

Is Baume des Pierres the same as the famous cave in Quinson? No. Baume des Pierres is a different, lesser-known cave than the Grotte de la Baume Bonne, home to the prehistory museum. Both lie within the municipality of Quinson, but they are separate sites with a very different character.

Is the route suitable for children? The canal-side section works for fit children accompanied by adults, but the cave entry itself, with its narrow squeeze and limited visibility, calls for a degree of composure and physical readiness.