Spelunking (Potholing) Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® [ Ballooning | Bungee | Cycling | Camping | Climbing | Diving | Fishing | Golfing | Hang Gliding | Hiking | Horseback | Pétanque | Rafting | Sailing | Sailplanes | Skating | Skiing | Spelunking | Swimming | Windsurfing ] This page lists caves, pot-holes and sink-holes open only to certified members of Speleological Clubs, accompanied by a professional guide, and with the correct equipment. For caves open to the public for guided visits, check out Caves. A list of some of the villages with nearby grottos and potholes is given at the bottom of this page. We have some spelunking web-sites listed on Beyond's Links-Sports page. For the moment we have just a list of the caves with a brief description of the location. Because they are listed by their French names, these French terms will help explain their nature: French English aven pot-hole, sink-hole gouffre pit, chasm grotte cave gorge gorge, canyon plateau plateau, high plain Gouffre du Caladaire (04) Montsallier; Alpes de Haute-Provence. Near the village of Banon, 25 km northwest of Forcalquier on the D950. Forcalquier is 10 km west of the Durance river and the autoroute A51 between Aix-en-Provence and Sisteron, and about 20 km north of Manosque. Gouffre du Petit Saint Cassien (83) Nans les Pins; Var. Northwest of Toulon, this site is located half way between Aubagne (east of Marseille) and Brignoles on the N560. Aven de Sorps (83) Plateau de Canjuers; Var. The Plateau de Canjuers, 25 km northwest of Draguignan and 30 km southwest of Castellane, is part of a large military terrain. For access to the Aven de Sorps, a collection of pot-holes with a subterranean river, contact the Speleo-club de Draguignan. Embut de Caussols (Gouffre de l'Embut) (06) Plateau de Caussols; Alpes-Maritimes. About 12 km north of Grasse, either west via St. Vallier on the Route Napoléon (N85) or east via Gourdon (D2085, D3). The cave is located about 2 km east of the hamlet of Caussols, just south of the D12. Grottes du Chat (06) Gorges du Daluis; Alpes-Maritimes. The Grottes du Chat caves are located 300 m above the village of Daluis, 8.5 km north of the N202, half way between Annot and Entrevaux. Grottes de la Foux 1 (06) St. Cézaire-sur-Siagne; Alpes-Maritimes. St. Cézaire is 15 km west of Grasse on the D11, and 11 km south of St. Vallier on the D5. From St. Cézaire, take the tiny D105 northwest (direction Mons) about 5 km. Where the road crosses the Canal de la Siagne, park your car and walk, following down the water course. Grottes de la Foux 2 (06) St. Cézaire-sur-Siagne; Alpes-Maritimes. From St. Cézaire (as for Grottes de la Foux 1), take the tiny D105 northwest (direction Mons) about 5 km. Where the road crosses the Canal de la Siagne, park and walk. Follow the Siagne north about 1000 m, to opposite the hydro-electric plant. La Grotte de Paques (06) St. Cézaire-sur-Siagne; Alpes-Maritimes. From St. Cézaire (as for Grottes de la Foux 1), take the tiny D105 northwest (direction Mons) about 5 km. Where the road crosses the Canal de la Siagne, park and walk. Follow the aqueduct north about 10 minutes, to the first houses before the hydro-electric plant. The path is marked (on private property), passing to the right of the houses, and the grotte is about 300 m further. La Grotte de Mons (83) Mons; Var. From St. Cézaire (as for Grottes de la Foux 1), take the tiny D105 northwest (direction Mons) up the Gorges de la Siagne about 5 km. Follow the even tinier D656 (north, direction Mons). The cave is closed off by an iron grate because of damage and vandalism, so ask for the key at the Mairie in Mons. Grottes de la Mescla (83) Malaussène; Var. Malaussène is on the N202, Route de Grenoble, about 35 km north of Nice, just 6 km before (east of) Villars-sur-Var. Le Gouffre du Calernaum (06) Plateau de Calern, Caussols; Alpes-Maritimes. Located on the upper plateau, above Caussols, the entrances are controlled by the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur. Aven de Jean Nouveau (84) Sault; Vaucluse. Sault is in the Vaucluse mountains, about 80 km due north of Aix-en-Provence (31 km north of Apt). It is well west of the Durance river and the Aix-Sisteron A51 autoroute (54 km west of Forcalquier on the D950). One of the most famous pits in the world, the Aven de Jean Nouveau was first explored in 1892. A Beyond reader has been down to -578 metres here. List of Villages with nearby grottos and potholes. Andon (06) Caille (06) Cipières (06) Claviers (83) Aven de la Lioure Comps-sur-Artuby (83) Grotte des Gnomines; Aven de la Souche Conségudes (06) Falicon (06) Aven des Ratapignata (with pyramid) Les Ferres (06) Levens (06) Grotte de St. Arnoux Aven des Frégates La Source (2 grottos) Castel-Vecchio Séranon (06)