What to See Inside Aven Armand
The funicular descent, the Virgin Forest and the Grande Stalagmite — a concierge guide to the highlights of the guided Jules Verne tour.
Aven Armand is explored on a single guided tour through one enormous chamber, so knowing what to look for ahead of time helps you get the most from the hour underground. This guide walks through the funicular descent, the chamber's Virgin Forest and its centrepiece formation.
What is the funicular descent like?
The tour begins with a funicular ride 60 metres down through the rock, taking under two minutes — a smooth, well-lit descent that replaced the original rope-and-ladder route Louis Armand and Édouard-Alfred Martel first used in 1897.
It's a striking start to the visit in its own right, and for many visitors — especially children — the ride down is a highlight before the chamber itself even comes into view.
What is the Virgin Forest?
The Forêt Vierge, or Virgin Forest, is the local name for the collection of close to 400 stalagmites that fill the chamber floor, their silhouettes crowding the space like tree trunks under the cave's lighting.
Walking the platform that winds through the chamber puts you within a few metres of formations built up over hundreds of thousands of years — a scale that's hard to appreciate from photographs alone.
What is the Grande Stalagmite?
At the centre of the Virgin Forest stands the Grande Stalagmite, around 30 metres tall and generally cited as the tallest stalagmite inside any show cave open to the public — estimated at 300,000 to 400,000 years old.
Guides typically pause here to explain how mineral-rich water dripping over hundreds of millennia built the formation up, layer by microscopic layer.
Frequently asked
What is the main highlight at Aven Armand?
The Grande Stalagmite at the centre of the Virgin Forest chamber — around 30 metres tall and generally cited as the tallest stalagmite inside any show cave open to the public.
How many stalagmites are inside Aven Armand?
Close to 400, collectively known as the Forêt Vierge, or Virgin Forest, filling the floor of the cave's single chamber.
Is the funicular part of the tour or optional?
It's the standard way down to the chamber on the Jules Verne tour, covering the 60-metre descent in under two minutes.