🌑 Gouffre de Padirac
Underground river system in Lot, Occitanie
📌 Fast Facts
- Sinkhole entrance: approximately 35 metres in diameter
- Active underground river navigable by boat
- Open to public tourism since 1889
- Location: Lot department, southwestern France
Gouffre de Padirac is a natural sinkhole and limestone cave system in the Lot department of Occitanie, southwestern France, that contains an active underground river navigable by boat. The entrance descends approximately 35 metres into an extensive subterranean network shaped by water erosion over millions of years. As of 2026, the site remains open year-round to the public, accessible via guided tours that combine walking paths and boat sections on the river. The site has functioned as a ...