ENTRE OMBRES ET LUMIERES
IMMERSION AU COEUR
D'UN SITE NATUREL MAJEUR
TESTIMONIALS
“Let yourself be guided by an extreme feeling of freedom. A Journey in the
depths of the Earth that will not leave you indifferent. »
Eva Johnson, speleologist
"Come in, come in, don't be afraid...
To tell you the truth, time here does not have the same value, it is not counted in hours, weeks or even years...»
Edmond Delonca, the discoverer
DON'T FORGET TRAIN AND BUS!
Enjoy a ticket for just 1 € from Perpignan.
VILLEFRANCHE-DE-CONFLENT
City classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.
ANIMATION
SOUNDS & LIGHTS
A permanent appointment at the Temple of Angkor!
DINOSAURS
CORNER
Family walk to do before or after visiting the Caves.
CUTTING PLAN OF THE VISIT
RATES AND TIMETABLES
Timetables
From April 1 to June 30: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry).
From July 1 to August 31: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (last entry).
From October 1 to the end of the All Saints holidays : 11am to 4pm (last entry).
Other periods : farm
Prices
* Last entry at the cash desk, Visit without reservation.
Adults: 12 € Children : 6 € (from 5 to 12 years old included).
SELF AUTONOMY VISIT
Guided visit by your own cellphone, on your rythme and on your language.
• Flash the QR code upon your arrival and Log in the Cave wifi network « grotte des canalettes ».
• For everybody’s tranquility make sure to use your headphone.
• Enjoy your exploration!
THE UNDERGROUND VERSAILLES OF THE PYRENEES
The Grotte des Canalettes is a private family site. It is located at the foot of the Canigou Massif, 300 meters from the Medieval City fortified by Vauban: Villefranche-de-Conflent, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is made up of two parts, the Galerie des Deux Porches which leads to the White Room and the Angkor Network. Stalactites, stalagmites, gours, columns, draperies, pillars...
• The White Room contains all the types of concretions found underground.
• The Angkor network includes: the Nave, the Lac aux Atolls, the Temple of Angkor and the Salle du Dôme Rouge.
• The Temple of Angkor is reminiscent of a Khmer temple in the Cambodian forest. This huge room, with its tormented decor, is full of twisted stone columns, stalagmitic flows with sparkling drapes…
Its exceptional structure could have inspired the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí! You can admire the Catalan Column, the Sagrada Familia, the Tomb of Martel, the Hanging Glacier and the Gouffre.
The Grotto is revealed as the visit progresses and offers you an uninterrupted series of natural buildings with unusual and gigantic volumes which will lead you to the magnificent belvedere of the Balcon des Ténèbres.
THE INVENTOR
Story of a project, a success
The development of the Grandes Canalettes cave is the work of a lifetime, that of Mr. Edmond Delonca, owner of the site from 1981 to 2013.
It was in 1984 that the cave was inaugurated after colossal works...
The entrance hall is carved with explosives and jackhammers and tons of sand extracted. Accessibility to the different rooms is facilitated by a track, platforms, handrails, galvanized and non-slip steel stairs are welded along the 1 km long route (round trip). All the material is transported on the back of a man, because no machine can invite itself to the party.
“Do not modify or denature a major natural site and offer maximum safety and comfort to the public barn” such were the wishes of its designer.
Edmond Delonca left us prematurely one day in December 2013.
Thierry Delory
GROUP INFORMATION
For groups and professionals, do not hesitate to contact us to organize your events by privatizing the cave!
ADULT RATE :
Visit without guide (connection by mobile phone)
at €9 per adult (driver and guide free) (average duration 1 hour)
Self-guided tour followed by the Video Projection Show "THE SECRETS OF THE EARTH"
(average duration 1h20) at 11€/Ad (driver and guide free) (Except July and August)
SCHOOL RATE :
Kindergarten at 3 € per child*
Primary at 4 € per child*
Middle school student at 5 € per child*
High school student at 6 € per child*
*If accompanying persons: 6 €/Guest (free teacher or teacher)
*If "THE SECRETS OF THE EARTH" Video Projection show desired: 2 € supplement per person (Except July-August)
Cave located 300 from Villefranche de Conflent (classified by UNESCO)
On-site private parking at the site, free for buses
Provide a constant temperature 14° wool!
USEFUL INFORMATIONS
How to come to the Grotto?
Access by bus and by train only €1 from Perpignan.
By car, by RN 116, direction Andorra to Villefranche-de-Conflent.
• Average length of visit: 1 hour
• 14° bring a sweater!
• No stroller access
• No wheelchair access
• Our animal friends carried in a bag only
• On site free private parking for our customers
Contact us
Road to Vernet-les-Bains,
66500 Villefranche-de-Conflent
04 68 05 20 20
06 14 7 85 22
Écrin de Roche
The shop of Canalettes Caves
29 Bd de la Méditérranée
66 140 Canet-en-Roussillon
Mob. 06 32 36 30 60
