A funicular drops you 60 metres underground into a cavern holding more than 400 stalagmites, one of them a 30-metre giant discovered by chance in 1897 and hidden from daylight ever since.
See ticket optionsOne adult (19+) · guided 1-hour tour of the Virgin Forest chamber
€32
One child, aged 5–18 · guided 1-hour tour of the Virgin Forest chamber
€21
One reduced-rate adult · students, jobseekers, large-family cardholders and visitors with a disability, with valid ID
€28
One reduced-rate child, aged 5–18, with valid ID or proof of status
€19
One adult · covers both the cave and the Cité de Pierres rock city
€43
One child, aged 5–18 · covers both the cave and the Cité de Pierres rock city
€30
“The moment the funicular doors open onto that chamber is something I won't forget — you genuinely can't see the scale from photos. Our guide's pacing was good even with the French commentary, and the printed English notes filled in the gaps.”
“We'd seen show caves before but nothing close to this in scale. The Grande Stalagmite is genuinely jaw-dropping in person, and the funicular ride down is an experience in itself. Booking ahead meant we weren't queuing in the sun beforehand.”
“Sehr beeindruckend — die Fahrt mit der Standseilbahn und dann dieser riesige Saal voller Stalagmiten. Kühl da unten, also unbedingt eine Jacke mitnehmen. Die Buchung im Voraus hat alles einfacher gemacht.”
Audio guide · 5-minute
A short, calm narrative — how Louis Armand stumbled onto this shaft in 1897, what the funicular ride down actually feels like, and what to look for once you're standing among more than 400 stalagmites. Listen on the drive out to the causse.
Recorded for Aven Armand Tickets concierge. Free to download.
Aven Armand is a show cave on the Causse Méjean, the wild limestone plateau at the heart of the Cévennes in France's Lozère department, 11 km from the village of Meyrueis and 21 km from Sainte-Énimie in the Gorges du Tarn. It takes its name from Louis Armand, a blacksmith at nearby Le Rozier, who reported the shaft to Édouard-Alfred Martel — one of the founders of modern speleology — on 18 September 1897 and was the first man down it the following day, with Armand Viré and Martel himself following over 20–21 September. What they found below the causse's dry surface was a single chamber of exceptional size, its floor crowded with stone.
The cave's single vast chamber, the Salle de la Grande Stalagmite, is roughly the size of a cathedral nave and holds what's known locally as the Forêt Vierge, or Virgin Forest: more than 400 stalagmites rising from the chamber floor, individual columns frequently reaching 15 to 20 metres. At its centre stands the Grande Stalagmite itself, generally cited as the tallest stalagmite inside any show cave open to the public — around 30 metres, built up over an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 years, one thin mineral layer at a time.
Today a funicular carries visitors 60 metres down through the rock in under two minutes, replacing the rope-and-ladder descent Armand and Martel first made. From the funicular's lower station, the guided Jules Verne tour leads on foot through the chamber and its forest of stone, at a constant c.12°C whatever the season outside. We handle the ticketing so your timed departure is confirmed before you arrive — one less thing to plan once you're out on the causse.
Aven Armand Tickets acts as a facilitator to assist international visitors in booking admission to the Aven Armand cave directly through the site's own ticketing system. We do not resell tickets — we provide a booking and English-language support service, and our concierge fee is included in the price you see. If you prefer to buy directly, the Aven Armand site runs its own ticket desk and online shop.
Plan your visit
Which month, which hour, and why an early departure changes everything — a concierge timing guide to France's Virgin Forest cave.
A drive across the Causse Méjean from Millau, Meyrueis or Florac — here is how to reach Aven Armand by car, and what to expect on the plateau.
A funicular ride and a forest made of stone — Aven Armand is one of the more dramatic family days out in the Cévennes. Here is how to make the most of it.
Yes. The Jules Verne tour runs as guided departures at set times through the day, so your ticket is valid for the departure you book. Arrive at least 15 minutes early to collect your ticket and find the funicular entrance.
Your departure is reserved and confirmed before you arrive, so you go straight to the funicular for your booked time rather than queuing to buy a ticket on the day. There's still a short wait for your group to be called, as with any timed guided tour.
The Jules Verne tour: a funicular descent 60 metres underground, then a roughly one-hour guided walk through the Salle de la Grande Stalagmite and its forest of more than 400 stalagmites. It's one ticket covering the full guided visit.
We send your ticket to your email as a mobile ticket with a QR code once your booking is confirmed. There's nothing to print — show it on your phone at the ticket desk.
The cave sits on the D63 across the Causse Méjean, 11 km from Meyrueis, 21 km from La Malène and Sainte-Énimie, and 32 km from Florac. Almost everyone arrives by car — about 45–60 minutes from Millau, and roughly 135 km from Montpellier, the nearest city with an airport and TGV station. Free parking is provided on site.
The guided Jules Verne tour itself runs about an hour, but allow closer to 90 minutes in total once you include the funicular, the walk to and from the entrance, and time to look around the visitor centre.
The guide's commentary is given primarily in French. Multilingual printed guides are available at the entrance so you can follow the visit in your own language — ask for an English copy when you collect your ticket.
Yes — the cave holds a constant c.12°C year-round, whatever the weather is doing outside. Bring a light jacket or fleece even if you're visiting in summer.
Yes. The funicular ride and the sheer scale of the stalagmite forest tend to make a strong impression on children, and the guided pace keeps the visit moving. Younger children should stay close on the steps beyond the funicular.
The reduced rate covers students, jobseekers, large-family cardholders and visitors with a disability. Bring valid ID or proof of status to the ticket desk — our reduced tickets are priced for these categories.
Yes — children under 5 enter free. Our child ticket covers ages 5 to 18, priced separately from the adult rate.
It's a combined ticket covering both Aven Armand's guided cave tour and same-day admission to the Cité de Pierres, a nearby rock formation site, at a lower combined price than buying the two separately.
Partially. The funicular covers the first 60 metres of the descent and visitors with reduced mobility can be brought to the platform overlooking the stalagmite forest, 70 metres down, but wheelchairs cannot be admitted for technical reasons. The route on to the chamber floor involves roughly 200 irregular steps down and close to 100 back up, so it isn't suitable for visitors with severe mobility restrictions. Guide dogs are welcome throughout.
Yes — personal photography and casual smartphone video are welcome, but flash is not permitted. Professional equipment such as tripods or camera rigs needs the operator's prior authorisation, and the low light underground rewards a steady hand rather than a flash.
The Grande Stalagmite at the centre of the chamber stands around 30 metres tall, generally cited as the tallest known stalagmite inside any show cave open to the public. It's estimated to be 300,000–400,000 years old.
Because admission is for a specific timed departure, please choose your date and time with care when you book. All sales are final once confirmed; the only exception is a full refund if the operator cancels your visit. See our terms for the full policy.
No. We're an independent concierge service for international visitors. We book a genuine, timed-entry admission on your behalf and handle the process in your own language. Our service fee is included in the price shown, and you can always buy directly from Aven Armand's own site if you prefer.
The price you see is the price you pay — we show it in your local currency where we can and charge exactly that amount, with no surprise fees at checkout. Payment is by card on a secure page.