Grotte des Cavottes

Grotte des Cavottes, also known as the Montrond Cave, is a limestone cave in the commune of Montrond-le-Château, in the Doubs department of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It reaches a depth of 128 metres, and its surveyed passages add up to almost 3,600 metres, making it one of the region's better-known caving sites.

What does the inside of the cave look like?

The entrance opens as a wide funnel that leads into a gallery reaching the spacious Chaos Room, filled with jumbled rock debris. Beyond it lies a narrow fissure found by caver Marcel Duret, opening onto a broad passage roughly five metres wide and five metres high. From there the route continues through the Dune Room and a large final chamber, while more experienced visitors can branch off into a long southern gallery. The cave mixes roomy, walkable sections with tighter, more technical squeezes.

How was the cave discovered and explored?

The entrance galleries and the Chaos Room were already known in the 19th century. The turning point came in 1916, when Marcel Duret discovered the fissure that now bears his name, opening access to sections of the cave that had previously been out of reach. Various caving groups pushed further into the lower network during the 1950s, and since 1980 the local caving club based in Montrond-le-Château has mapped more than 400 additional metres of passage. In practice, exploration of the cave has continued on and off for over a century.

Does any wildlife live in the cave?

Yes. The cave serves as a winter roost for several bat species, notably greater horseshoe bats. Visitors are encouraged to move quietly and keep disturbance to a minimum, especially during the colder months when bats are hibernating.

Can you visit the cave?

Grotte des Cavottes is a popular choice for introductory caving trips, with a route rated as easy and suitable for both beginners and more seasoned participants. A typical outing lasts around five hours and includes short roped sections (two abseils under eight metres), a zip line crossing, easy climbing moves, wide galleries, and tight, sideways-squeeze passages nicknamed "Egyptian" crawls. The cave is also opened regularly for France's National Caving Days, organised by the local speleology club.

What should you bring?

Underground temperatures hold steady at around 12°C year-round, regardless of the season above ground. Sturdy trousers, a fleece top and thick socks are recommended, along with a full set of dry clothes to change into afterwards — most visitors come out fairly wet.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Grotte des Cavottes located? In the commune of Montrond-le-Château, in the Doubs department, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France.

How deep and how long is the cave? Its surveyed passages total nearly 3,600 metres, with a maximum depth of 128 metres.

Is the cave suitable for beginners? Yes. The route is rated as easy and is regularly used for introductory caving trips, though it does include technical elements such as short roped descents and a zip line crossing.

How long does a visit take? A typical caving trip through Grotte des Cavottes takes about five hours.

Are there bats in the cave? Yes, the cave is a winter roost for several bat species, including greater horseshoe bats.