Like fairies, the Grully family watches over the mysterious and legendary Grotte des Demoiselles in the Hérault valley.

Guilhem and Arnaud de Grully, the guardians of the Grotte des Demoiselles. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

Popular with tourists, the place located under the Thaurac plateau in Saint-Bauzille-de-Putois, near Pic Saint-Loup, is full of treasures, some of which are over 264,000 years old. Since the discovery of the cave, many guardians have succeeded one another to allow its wonders to be admired today.

Legend has it that it was a young shepherd, Petit Jean, who first set foot on this emblematic place. In search of one of his lost sheep that had fallen into a hole, he entered the cave, before falling and seeing a cloud of fairies dancing around him. And to wake up on the surface, with his sheep.

The story was kept alive over the years until Benoît-Joseph Marsollier des Vivetières mounted an expedition in 1780 and discovered the interior of this majestic cave which would later be studied in particular by the famous speleologist Edouard-Alfred Martel in 1884.

Paul de Grully, a precursor

It was not until 1929 that Paul de Grully embarked on a crazy idea: to develop the grotto of the fairies who had become the Demoiselles and open it to the public. To do this, he created the Languedoc-Roussillon sites and monuments company.

“My grandfather was a true pioneer”, explains Guilhem de Grully. “You had to be a little crazy, especially at the time. He had the first underground tourist funicular in Europe built by creating another entrance &ndash artificial – at the bottom of the cliff that shelters the famous cave within it." A goldsmith's work with a talented surveyor and engineer using dynamite to achieve, to the nearest degree to create an access tunnel 160 meters long and 50 meters high. A simple mistake could ruin everything.

The operation was a success: in 1931 the cave was opened to the public and in 1932 it was inaugurated by the President of the Republic Gaston Doumergue himself. Since then, its soil has been trodden by more than a million visitors.

As for the funicular, it is an integral part of the visit. "But it is also a bit of my dancer", admits with a smile the grandson of the man who had it built, but who is not a little proud to present from all angles, this illustrious and original ski lift allowing access to the center of the earth.

Emmanuel, Paul and Arnaud de Grully, the successors

Paul's son Emmanuel will take over from his father. And the family business continues to this day. “I was not baptized in the cave but almost”, confides with a great burst of laughter, Guilhem de Grully who is none other than Emmanuel's son. He knows this cave like the back of his hand, he has traveled and visited every interstice, every cavity since his earliest childhood. “I fell into it when I was little”, he jokes.

So it was logical that he took over the management in 1992. “Like my father and grandfather, I am passionate.” And as a tradition, his son Arnaud joined him in this great adventure.

A family affair that does not intend to stop to continue to watch over, like fairies, this cave with character magic that still contains many mysteries.

In practice

The site is open 7 days a week. "We are still dependent on the weather, even at inside.” Times vary depending on the day, but several tours are offered throughout the day.

In the cave, the temperature is constant all year round: it is 15°C.

The Grotte des Demoiselles is located on Route de la Grotte, RD 108E8 in Saint-Bauzille-de-Putois. Tel. 04 67 73 70 02. Reservations are possible via the website.

Prices: 15 euros for adults and 13 euros reduced for a guided tour lasting approximately 1 hour 30 minutes with the funicular. Private or group tours are possible. Concerts are sometimes organized within the cave.

New releases until August 30, by reservation only:

The Underground Vertige with a lantern exploration of the cave, then a visit to the Aven de l'Eure with a rappel. Price: 58 euros for a duration of 4 hours. Accessible from the age of 8. Departure before 9 am

The Pendulum Jump with a lantern exploration of the cave and a jump into the void in the Cathedral room. Price: 65 euros for the commuter, 30 euros for accompanying persons for a duration of 3 hours. Accessible from the age of 5. Reception around 5:40 p.m.

On site, it is possible to meet Guilhem de Grully, who never tires of telling the different anecdotes and stories of this place. He even gives the weather forecast in advance by positioning himself at the entrance to the tunnel. "It is the largest barometer in Languedoc: you can know almost for sure the weather for the next day, depending on whether you feel hot or cold air…"

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