

Small pools, labyrinths, concretions and a lake: the Grottes de La Balme, located 40 minutes from Lyon, are rich in what nature has shaped. Discover a rare and exceptional natural site offering an unusual insight into the underground world!
Arrive under this impressive porch and enter the bowels of the cliff to discover labyrinths, an underground lake, stalactites and stalagmites, an amphitheater of small pools... that's what the Grottes de La Balme have to offer.
Take your time on a self-guided tour lasting around 1 hour 15 minutes, or take a guided tour (booking required).
Visited since 1807, the Grottes de La Balme reveal their history and mysteries as you explore 1,000 meters of underground galleries.
Located in the Nord-Isère region, in the center of the village of La Balme-les-Grottes, the caves are an exciting detour in the Balcons du Dauphiné region.
Round off your day with a free visit to the Espace Naturel Sensible “Les Coteaux de Saint-Roch”, with its signposted path and discovery booklet. This protected natural area allows you to observe the particular features of the cliffs, forest and dry grasslands surrounding the Grottes de La Balme, home to numerous species of protected plants and animals.
Become true adventurers with our 100% family-friendly activities! A playful visit with Archibalme's Investigation: young and old alike will be delighted.
Summer and winter alike, the underground world never ceases to amaze!
The souvenir store is open at the same time as the caves, and offers a wide range of gifts: crockery, textiles, stones, a selection of books and other must-have items for yourself or as a gift.
During the summer period, Dutch visits schedules are defined and fixed on certain days.
Outside the summer period, the visits are in foreign languages on request;
Take your time on a self-guided tour lasting around 1 hour 15 minutes, or take a guided tour (booking required).
Visited since 1807, the Grottes de La Balme reveal their history and mysteries as you explore 1,000 meters of underground galleries.
Located in the Nord-Isère region, in the center of the village of La Balme-les-Grottes, the caves are an exciting detour in the Balcons du Dauphiné region.
Round off your day with a free visit to the Espace Naturel Sensible “Les Coteaux de Saint-Roch”, with its signposted path and discovery booklet. This protected natural area allows you to observe the particular features of the cliffs, forest and dry grasslands surrounding the Grottes de La Balme, home to numerous species of protected plants and animals.
Become true adventurers with our 100% family-friendly activities! A playful visit with Archibalme's Investigation: young and old alike will be delighted.
Summer and winter alike, the underground world never ceases to amaze!
The souvenir store is open at the same time as the caves, and offers a wide range of gifts: crockery, textiles, stones, a selection of books and other must-have items for yourself or as a gift.
During the summer period, Dutch visits schedules are defined and fixed on certain days.
Outside the summer period, the visits are in foreign languages on request;
- TipsTemperate in summer and winter, sheltered from the rain, the Grottes de La Balme can be visited all year round and in all weathers, thanks to an average temperature of between 12° and 15°C!
This tourist site, which has been awarded the Accueil Vélo label, has all the services needed to welcome travellers by bike: lockers, luggage lockers, bike lockers, a drinking water refill point and a complete repair kit for minor damage.
Services
Services
Car park
- Activities
- Activity
- Pedestrian sports
- Hike on foot
- Trail
- Running
- Equipment
- Bicycle parking
- Coach parking
- Free car park
- Parking nearby
- Car park
- Charging stations for electric vehicles
- Defibrillator
- Picnic area
- Themed path
- Toilets
- Services
- Educational visits
- Coach access
- Motorhomes allowed
- Shop
- Tourist brochures
- Spot photo
- Checkroom
Services offered
Quality standards
Quality standards
Label Accueil VéloAccessibility
Accessibility
Not accessible in a wheelchair
Rates
Rates
From 7 February 2026 to 16 November 2026
From 7 February 2026 to 16 November 2026
Adult
€11.00
Child
€8.00
Teenager
€9.00
Reduced price
From €6.00
Family pass
€35.00
Job seeker
€9.00
Student
€9.00
Payment methods
Payment methods
Payment methods
Check
Cash
Bank/credit card
Travellers Cheque
Contactless paymentOpenings
Openings
- From 9 February 2026 until 28 February 2026
- From 1 March 2026 until 31 March 2026
- From 1 April 2026 until 30 April 2026
- From 1 May 2026 until 3 May 2026
- From 6 May 2026 until 10 May 2026
- From 13 May 2026 until 17 May 2026
- From 20 May 2026 until 24 May 2026
- Monday 25 May 2026
- From 27 May 2026 until 3 July 2026
- From 4 July 2026 until 1 September 2026
- From 2 September 2026 until 27 October 2026
- From 29 October 2026 until 31 October 2026
- From 1 November 2026 until 13 November 2026
Monday
13:30 - 18:00
Tuesday
13:30 - 18:00
Wednesday
13:30 - 18:00
Thursday
13:30 - 18:00
Friday
13:30 - 18:00
Saturday
at 14:00
at 16:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:00
Sunday
10:30 - 18:00
Guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm and 4pm
Exceptionally closed on 23rd and 24th February
Exceptionally closed on 23rd and 24th February
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
13:30 - 18:00
Thursday
13:30 - 18:00
Friday
13:30 - 18:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:00
Sunday
10:30 - 18:00
Guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm and 4pm
Monday
13:00 - 18:00
Tuesday
13:00 - 18:00
Wednesday
13:00 - 18:00
Thursday
13:00 - 18:00
Friday
13:00 - 18:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:00
Sunday
10:30 - 18:00
Guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm and 4pm.
Exceptionally closed on Mondays 20 and 27 April and Tuesdays 21 and 28 April.
Exceptionally closed on Mondays 20 and 27 April and Tuesdays 21 and 28 April.
Friday
10:30 - 18:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:00
Sunday
10:30 - 18:00
Guided tours at 2pm and 4pm (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
Wednesday
13:30 - 18:00
Thursday
13:30 - 18:00
Friday
10:30 - 18:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:00
Sunday
10:30 - 18:00
Guided tours at 2pm and 4pm (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
Wednesday
13:30 - 18:00
Thursday
10:30 - 18:00
Friday
10:30 - 18:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:00
Sunday
10:30 - 18:00
Wednesday
13:30 - 18:00
Thursday
13:30 - 18:00
Friday
13:30 - 18:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:00
Sunday
10:30 - 18:00
10:30 - 18:00
at 14:00
at 16:00
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
13:30 - 18:00
Thursday
13:30 - 18:00
Friday
13:30 - 18:00
Saturday
at 14:00
at 16:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:00
Sunday
10:30 - 18:00
Monday
10:30 - 18:30
Monday
at 14:00
at 16:00
at 11:00
Tuesday
at 14:00
at 16:00
at 11:00
Tuesday
10:30 - 18:30
Wednesday
10:30 - 18:30
Wednesday
at 14:00
at 16:00
at 11:00
Thursday
10:30 - 18:30
Thursday
at 14:00
at 16:00
at 11:00
Friday
10:30 - 18:30
Friday
at 14:00
at 16:00
at 11:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:30
Saturday
at 14:00
at 16:00
at 11:00
Sunday
at 14:00
at 16:00
at 11:00
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
13:30 - 18:00
Thursday
13:30 - 18:00
Friday
13:30 - 18:00
Saturday
at 16:00
at 14:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:00
Sunday
10:30 - 18:00
Thursday
15:00 - 20:00
Friday
15:00 - 20:00
Saturday
15:00 - 20:00
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
13:30 - 18:00
Thursday
13:30 - 18:00
Friday
13:30 - 18:00
Saturday
at 14:00
at 16:00
Saturday
10:30 - 18:00
Sunday
10:30 - 18:00
Location
Location
Spoken languages
Spoken languages
Access
Access
- The La Balme caves are located in the Balcons du Dauphiné region of Northern Isère, 40 minutes from Lyon and 50 minutes from Bourgoin-Jallieu and Bourg-en-Bresse.

