Grottes des Moidons

Grottes des Moidons is a karst cave system tucked into the forest of the commune of Molain, at the heart of the French Jura. Discovered in 1966 by Fred Meyer, Patrice Meyer and Pierre Murat, the caves opened to the public in 1989 and have since become one of the region's most popular natural attractions.

What will you see inside?

The cave holds an extensive collection of dripstone formations — stalactites, stalagmites and columns — regarded as among the finest in the whole Jura. Visits are guided and last roughly 50 minutes. The tour begins with a short introductory film, continues through the main cave galleries and a dedicated bat area that includes a small labyrinth designed for younger visitors, and closes with a sound-and-light show that highlights the shapes of the rock formations.

Since 2014 a new access gallery has made the site reachable even with a stroller, so the route is genuinely family-friendly. Inside, the temperature holds steady at around +10°C year-round, so it's worth bringing a layer regardless of the season. The cave is not subject to flooding, which means visits run uninterrupted even after heavy rain on the surface.

How to get there?

Grottes des Moidons sits within the commune of Molain, surrounded by the wooded plateau landscape typical of the Jura. Access is via local forest roads, so it's worth confirming directions and parking arrangements shortly before your visit. If you have questions, the site can be reached by phone at +33 3 84 51 74 94.

When should you visit?

The caves are open seasonally, from April through the end of September. In April, May, June and September, opening hours run from 11:00 to 17:15, with the site closed on Wednesdays during those months (plus a handful of additional closed dates in late September). In July and August, at the height of the tourist season, hours are extended to 10:30–18:30 with no weekday closure.

Because the underground temperature stays essentially constant throughout the season, choosing when to come is more a matter of personal convenience — avoiding the busiest summer weekends, for instance — than of underground conditions, which barely change from spring to autumn.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a visit to Grottes des Moidons take? The guided tour lasts about 50 minutes and includes an introductory film, a walk through the cave galleries, a bat area with a children's labyrinth, and a closing sound-and-light show.

Can you visit the cave with a stroller? Yes. A new entrance gallery built in 2014 makes the route accessible to families with strollers.

What's the temperature like inside the cave? It stays at a constant +10°C year-round regardless of the weather outside, so warmer clothing is recommended.

Does rain affect the visit? No. The cave is not prone to flooding, so heavy surface rainfall doesn't disrupt tours inside.