Le monde souterrain et spéléologie
Guided walk through a reconstructed cave in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, featuring Norbert Casteret’s collection of cave crystallizations.
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About the museum
Le Monde Souterrain is set on the banks of the Sorgue, at the Vallis Clausa site in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. It honors Norbert Casteret, a pioneer of speleology, and offers an overview of the world of caves.
The visit begins with an account of recent explorations, narrated by cave explorers, which helps explain the mysteries of the Fontaine de Vaucluse, presented as the first open-air vertical spring in Europe. The route continues through a full-scale, fully reconstructed setting: waterfalls, an underground river, frescoes and prehistoric traces evoke a world whose exploration begins with the origins of humanity.
The visit ends in front of about 400 cave crystallizations gathered by Norbert Casteret over fifty years of exploration. According to the museum, this is today the only collection of its kind still open to the public, because the caves are now protected.
Highlights
- Full-scale reconstructed cave with waterfalls and an underground river
- Account of recent explorations, narrated by cave explorers
- About 400 cave crystallizations collected by Norbert Casteret
- Reconstructed frescoes and prehistoric traces
- Tribute to Norbert Casteret, pioneer of speleology
- Operated by
- Vallis Clausa SA
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
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| Children & teens | €6.50Child rate up to and including age 12; from age 13, the adult rate applies. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Group rate from 10 paying people; group visits by reservation only. |
| Families | €40Family pass for 2 adults and 2 children (up to and including age 12), valid for the guided visit of the Monde Souterrain and a visit to La Petite Provence – Village de santons. |
| Adult combined ticket: Monde Souterrain and La Petite Provence – Village de santons | €14 |
| Child combined ticket (up to and including age 12): Monde Souterrain and La Petite Provence | €11 |
| Family pass (2 adults and 2 children): Monde Souterrain and La Petite Provence | €40 |
Tickets are sold at the museum reception. For school and after-school groups, one accompanying adult is free for every 10 paid admissions.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Family ticket | €40 · Family pass for 2 adults and 2 children (up to and including age 12), valid for the guided visit of the Monde Souterrain and a visit to La Petite Provence – Village de santons. |
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The museum offers a guided visit through a reconstructed cave setting; it does not publish an age recommendation.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Centre
Bus Zou! line 914, Centre stop (connection from Isle-sur-la-Sorgue)
By car
Paid parking
Parking in the village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is paid; payment is made at the machines on arrival or through the EasyPark app. Parking is free for holders of a reduced-mobility (PMR) permit.
Address: Chemin de la Fontaine, 84800 Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 40 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Visits are by guided tour only, lasting about 40 minutes, with departures at fixed times. Group and class visits by reservation only. |
