La Verna Hall

Since 2010 the public can visit the impressive caves that make up the Sala La Verna, located in the French Basque town of Saint-Engrace, Aquitaine, France. They were discovered in 1953 and are the largest underground space open to visitors today.

This wonder of nature, in the heart of the limestone massif of La Piedra de San Martín, has a guided tour, with a safe 800-metre route, suitable for people with disabilities.

To make the most of the visit, binoculars are recommended. In addition, the polar temperatures inside the Hall make it necessary to wear warm clothing and footwear suitable for hiking. The temperature is between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius, depending on the route.

Visitors to the Sala La Verna are provided with a helmet. If they are foreign visitors, they will be provided with an audio guide in different languages, so as not to miss any of the interesting information provided by the guides.

Routes

There are several routes that visitors to the Sala La Verna can follow, and each one is adapted to different needs and tastes. The first of the routes, called "Discovery", is the least difficult and is adapted to people with special needs.

Then you can go on the "River Exploration". This route requires a minimum age of 7 years. You take a 660 metre long tunnel at the entrance of the cave, before the actual access to La Verna.

A long staircase carved into the rock leads to the river spillway and the dam. Here you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Sala and the gallery where its discoverers arrived. This route can be done in just over two hours.

The "Chevalier" route, which takes about three hours, is a medium level hike and requires a minimum age of 12 years. This hike takes place off the trails, following the course of the river as far as the Chevalier Hall.

The "Adélie" route is a five-hour hike, recommended for experienced hikers. The minimum age for access is 12 years old. It is a sporting speleological excursion. It also takes place off the trails, following the river to the Adélie Room. It is recommended to bring food for the walk.

Longer

The "Aranzadi" route also lasts five hours. It is a sporty and technical speleological excursion, at a sporting level. The minimum age for hikers is 14 years old. The Aranzadi gallery is accessed by an 80-metre climb. It is necessary to carry food for the route.

The "Las Grandes Salas" route requires a full day's visit, as it takes 8 hours. To visit Aranzadi and Chevalier in one day, visitors need to be at least 16 years old to enjoy this mix of sport and adventure. It is also necessary to bring provisions.

The other full-day tour is the Sala Lépineux, which is an expert sports tour. It requires a minimum age of 16 years. It is a sporty and technical speleological excursion to the base of the Sima Lépineux, the historic entrance to the Sima de La Piedra de San Martín. Food is required.