Grotte des Moradies

Grotte des Moradies is a karst cave in the commune of Marthon, in the Charente department of southwestern France. It sits on the left bank of the Bandiat river, roughly 8 km southwest of Montbron and 23 km southeast of Angoulême. The site is unusual in combining two distinct claims to fame: it is both a significant Stone Age archaeological find and part of one of France's largest karst systems.

What kind of cave is it?

Moradies is a labyrinth-type cave stretching about 775 metres, carved out by the Bandiat as its floodwaters vanish underground through swallow holes known locally as "pertes." This process is characteristic of the wider Karst de La Rochefoucauld, a system covering more than 500 km² between the town of La Rochefoucauld and the Échelle fault. The cave's existence marks the gradual eastward growth of the drainage basin through headward erosion of the Bandiat's underground channels. The region first drew scientific attention in the late 19th century from the pioneering speleologist E.A. Martel, and again in the 1940s from the Bordeaux geographer H. Enjalbert.

What was found inside?

The cave owes its notoriety to excavations carried out in 1875 by S. Dulignon-Desgranges. He recorded reindeer remains alongside a substantial flint toolkit: retouched blades and bladelets, blade-scrapers, and dihedral burins. Among the finds was also a somewhat worn human lower molar. The whole assemblage has been dated to the Upper Palaeolithic, specifically the Magdalenian period, and is now held in the Musée d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux, where it remains on display.

How do you get there?

The cave lies in the Bandiat valley, which runs east to west through Marthon. The surrounding countryside is popular with hikers and cyclists — trails following the Bandiat and the neighbouring Tardoire link villages, watermills and old manor houses, and in summer the region's caves offer a cool break from the heat. It's worth knowing that Grotte des Moradies is not a show cave with a marked visitor route inside; it's a natural, partly active karst feature of primary interest to cavers, geologists and archaeology enthusiasts, best appreciated from the outside or as part of a valley walk.

What else is there to see in Marthon?

Marthon itself was a strategically important settlement from the Middle Ages through to the French Revolution, and it retains a good deal of heritage from that era. The standout landmark is the Marthon keep, also known as the Tour du Breuil, a 12th-century defensive tower. Also worth a look are the Romanesque church of Saint-Martin, with its distinctive square bell tower, and the gatehouse chapel of Saint-Jean l'Évangéliste, which once controlled access to the castle.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer are the best seasons for exploring the Bandiat valley around Marthon, when hiking and cycling trails are fully accessible and the cool interior of the karst caves offers welcome relief from summer heat. Autumn, meanwhile, suits a quieter visit to the village's historic buildings without the crowds.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Grotte des Moradies? There is no confirmed information that the cave is open to the public with a marked visitor route — it functions primarily as a scientific and natural site rather than a show cave.

What was discovered in the cave? Reindeer remains, flint tools (blades, scrapers, burins) and a human molar, all dated to the Magdalenian phase of the Upper Palaeolithic.

Where are the finds kept today? At the Musée d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux.

How large is the cave? It runs for about 775 metres and has a labyrinthine layout shaped by the underground flow of the Bandiat river.