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CarolH183
We opted for the basket ride down into the cave - so glad we paid extra for the basket! Alternatively, one can walk down the stairs into the cave. On the way down, it was initially dark. The basket attendant offered information in French, but translated a few words for us here and there into English. As we got closer to the bottom, various sections became illuminated in a small-scale light show. Headsets were available in English, and conveniently started the narration once we were down at the bottom. It would start narrating about different sections and features of the cave once we arrived at them- very nice. The inside of the cave was really beautiful, full of crystal formations, a few resembling animals. The tour took about 30-40 minutes and was well worth it.The cave-park area is actually quite extensive, so one could spend a few hours or more there. There is a park, forest walking trails, a gift shop, snack bar, several picnic areas, and a couple of activities for children on site as well. http://gouffre-proumeyssac.com/gb/autour-du-gouffre.html to see the park area.Highly recommended, and I'd definitely go back!
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DesH623
The Crystal Cathedral is huge in size and well justifies its name. Simultaneous translations are available for the non-French speakers and those translations are as comprehensive as the French commentary itself – a definite plus point. The calcification is the same chemical process that is behind Mother Shipton’s Cave in Yorkshire but here, it is on a massive scale. Justifiably proud of being the largest such cave in the Perigord, there is also a small museum of finds that date back to long before the cave itself was discovered and the story of that discovery is also told. The on-site café had a good range of hot and cold snacks available and we enjoyed a pleasant lunch there as well.
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522melissat
While in Tayac for Christmas we visited this cathedral de cristal and rode down into it via the gondola chair, amaaaazing. A must do if you are there, we did the audio tour as well and were very glad we went. We then did the short forest walk behind the carpark and enjoyed the foggy wintry day even more.
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munson286
What an experience! These caves are worth visiting as the ambience is exceptional. You are taken on a guide tour, have a light show and then have to bend low through a tunnel to exit the cave. If you do not like confined spaces it is best to exit the cave by the route you entered.
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Fajolaise
Great historical interest attraction. Unique with a very safe "basket" where you are lowered into the "gouffre". Well worht the extra for this priviledge
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dalesman23
Fantastic formationsFantastic son et lumiereSome guided tours are in EnglishGreat value for money
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234paulined
I was not impressed with the "gondola" down. It gave the impression that it would rotate so you could have an all round view as you descended. It was used rather more for the benefit of those already in the cave for a "light" show! It was rather impressive with all the crystals but I was disappointed that you only got to see the hole and not explore any tunnels as in the very impressive Villars Gtotte. If you only speak English you have to stand for a long time and listen to the French Guide Witter on for an absolute age, which was tedious and not worth any l "tip" you were reminded about at the surface.
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SisterofSpitball
We spent quite a while debating which cave to visit in the Dordogne. We finally decided upon Proumeyssac- dubbed the 'Cathedrale du Cristale'. The cave itself is beautiful, although quite commercialised. Aside from the cave, there is a gift shop, café and numerous other activities onsite- such as picnic areas and a playpark.Entering the cave is really impressive- it's all in the dark until the 'light show' starts and the cave is revealed. Some people recommend paying extra for the descending basket, however the people paying to do this are part of the 'show', with all the visitors staring at them descending in this cage-like basket. It did have a slight feel of 'show monkeys' to it, so I must say consider this before you choose to pay extra to do it.For British visitors, you can rent an audio headset for 50 cents each, I believe. I recommend this for all older children and adults. With it, you can hear all about the history of the cave and it really makes the visit more enjoyable. However- BEWARE- these headsets fall off very easily and you are required to leave a 'deposit' (for us, a driving license) to rent the headsets. Mine fell right off my neck, through the elevated stairs in the grotte and onto the cave floor. However, I believe this is quite a common issue- we were asked to point out on a map where the headset fell and we were able to get our deposit back.The visit in the cave is quite short- certainly under an hour, although there is plenty else to do onsite if you wish, really for families with young-ish children. It is quite a commercialised cave, which I know some people don't like, but for us, it posed no problem and we really enjoyed our visit. They place pottery in the cave to get naturally glazed with some sort of substance, making for beautifully coated souvenirs! I bought a clay flower with this beautiful coating and it truly is a unique souvenir, albeit quite overpriced.Also bear in mind that photography is not permitted inside the cave- I believe in some other caves it is so you may want to bear this in mind when choosing a cave to visit!
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Princessjaynie
Beautiful doesn't come close to describing the Grotte .......it is well worth paying the extra to go down in the Gondoler....you get a totally different perspective.
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Lol68
We visited the Crystal Cathedral last week. It should have taken us 1.5 hrs from Riberac but we got very lost and it took MUCH longer. The cavernous space is hugely impressive. We chose to come down in the gondola but as other reviewers have said, it's not worth double the price 18e for an adult with gondola and 9e to come down the stairs but you will probably be tempted when you get there especially if you have children. What you don't know while you are being lowered is that you form part of the show as they are recreating earlier arrivals at the beginning of the last century who were lowered in a bucket!I was drawn to this attraction as I'd read about the light and sound show. However don't get too excited; Jean Michel Jarre it's not. I would have done without the cheesy disco lights and replaced them white/amber lighting to the dramatic sound of Carmina Burana playing but what do I know about caves/theatrical music & lighting. So when you get out at the bottom and see the next gondola arrive 15 mins later, you then realise that the light and sound show concentrated on your 'bucket' being lowered and that's why everyone is looking up at you. It is quite an entrance I suppose though you don't go out the way you come in, you join one of the tours..Headphones are available at 1e each and it is quite funny that the French tour guide talks for about three times as long as your recording lasts but we knew that in advance from other reviewers so not a problem. The whole thing lasts about 45 mins which is long enough. It's a fantastic sight but I wouldn't travel moire than an hour to see it.
