Caves Sainte-Anne

Caves Sainte-Anne is a karst cave system located between the villages of Tilff and Méry, within the municipality of Esneux, in the province of Liège in Wallonia, Belgium. The cave sits along the road connecting Esneux and Tilff, on the right bank of the river Ourthe, about a kilometre before entering Tilff.

How did the cave form?

Caves Sainte-Anne was carved out by an underground river, which can still be followed for several hundred metres up to a siphon fed by waters coming from the Chawresse cave and the Trou des Manants. The lower level of the system remains active and water-filled, and can become difficult to navigate during periods of high water. The upper levels, abandoned long ago by flowing water, are considered "fossil" passages — a common stage in the life cycle of karst caves, where erosion migrates progressively deeper underground while older galleries dry out.

How large is the cave system?

The system extends over roughly 1,542 metres in total length and reaches a depth of 35 metres across four superimposed levels. This multi-level structure makes Caves Sainte-Anne one of the more substantial cave networks in this part of Belgium, even though it remains relatively unknown to the general public compared with more touristic caves in the region.

Can visitors enter on their own?

No. The cave entrance was, in the past, subject to repeated damage from visitors who did not respect the underground environment — including harm to rock formations and disturbance of the natural ecosystem. To address this, since 1991 the entrance has been secured with a locked door managed by the Belgian Union of Speleology (UBS – Union Belge de Spéléologie).

How can a group arrange a visit?

Access to the cave is limited to organised groups and requires prior authorisation from the UBS. Requests can be made through the union's office at rue Belvaux 93 in Liège, or by phone at +32 (0)4 342 61 42. This management model — common for ecologically and geologically valuable karst caves across Western Europe — allows the interests of speleologists and visitors to be balanced against the need to protect a fragile underground environment, including its rock formations and any cave-dwelling fauna.

What should visitors know before planning a trip?

Caves Sainte-Anne is primarily a site for those interested in speleology rather than a conventional show cave with a marked route and lighting. Exploring it requires proper physical preparation and equipment, particularly in the sections with active water flow, where difficulty varies with the season and rainfall levels. For anyone exploring the area around Esneux and Tilff along the river Ourthe, the cave is a notable point of geological interest in the region, though a visit depends on prior contact with the organisation that manages access.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cave open to individual tourists? No, the entrance is secured with a lock, and access is limited to groups that have obtained authorisation from the UBS.

How deep is the cave? The system reaches a depth of 35 metres across four levels and totals approximately 1,542 metres in length.

Where exactly is the cave located? Between Tilff and Méry, within the municipality of Esneux, along the Esneux-Tilff road, on the right bank of the river Ourthe, about a kilometre before Tilff.

Who manages access to the cave? The Belgian Union of Speleology (UBS), based at rue Belvaux 93 in Liège.