Circular of the karstic cave and Bois de Long cave in Brissac

Brissac Park is home to numerous springs that form the Avèze River, creating a haven of coolness. The eastern slope of Bois de Long is home to karstic caves and sinkholes. On our route, we will visit the Aven de la Dame, the Bois Long cave and the Rabanel chasm.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.80 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 275 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 273 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 350 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 131 m

Photos

Description of the walk

You can park under the plane trees in the park.

(S/E) Head south along Rue du Pont Vieux. Cross the small bridge and go up Rue de la Côte, ignoring the marked path that branches off to the right, and continue along Grand Rue to the castle.

(1) Follow the path to the left and ignore the path that descends to the right a few dozen metres further on. After about 600 metres, at the bend in the hill, look for a cairn. Leave the path and take the path that climbs to the right and meets another stony path about 200 metres further on.

(2) Turn left and continue climbing. After a few hairpin bends, you will find a dolmen on the left-hand side of the path called the Celtic Tomb. Continue climbing and pass the Aven de la Dame, which consists of three vertical cavities: please keep an eye on your young children.

(3) After the last karstic cave, the path curves and descends gently. You will reach a fork in the road where there is a signpost (elevation 321).

(4) Continue left for about 500 m and look for a small path between two cairns on the left.

(5) This path will take you through the holm oaks to the Bois de Long Cave, which is a must-see with a torch. Be careful, the ground can be slippery. Return to the main path and continue left to the Abîme de Rabanel.

(6) Retrace your steps.

(4) Take the path that descends to the left until you reach a fork at elevation 259.

(7) Then take the path on the right, which descends a few metres further on and levels out on the contour line. You will come to a fork.

(8) Turn left and descend to a spring. On the way, you will see a small karstic cave on your left. Then rejoin the coastal road you took at the start, which will take you back to the car park (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 133 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.68 - alt. 191 m - Brissac le Haut, castle
  3. 2 : km 1.53 - alt. 226 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2.53 - alt. 350 m - Aven de la Dame
  5. 4 : km 3.48 - alt. 322 m - Access to the cave and abyss
  6. 5 : km 3.89 - alt. 306 m - Grotte de Bois de Long
  7. 6 : km 4.45 - alt. 328 m - Abîme de Rabanel
  8. 7 : km 5.84 - alt. 262 m - Crossroads
  9. 8 : km 6.87 - alt. 232 m - Crossroads
  10. S/E : km 7.8 - alt. 133 m - Car park

Notes

Water point at the start.
Wear sturdy shoes, as the paths are rocky.
Bring torches for visiting the caves.

Worth a visit

Brissac Castle (private).
Visit the Bois Long cave and the Rabanel chasm.
Viewpoints over the village.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 3893391

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route tracked with a GPS watch, so spot on, completed on a trail in 1 hour 30 minutes. All the elevation gain is in the first 3 kilometres, which lead to a beautiful view. I forgot to stop and visit the cave, but I saw the abyss, which is very easy to find. Good route.

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Pedibusien
Pedibusien

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route winds through heath, on paths that are sometimes very rocky, making walking difficult in places, especially towards the end of the trail.
The path leading to the Rabanel abyss is marked by a small cairn. The protective fence, which is in very poor condition, has become completely obsolete. Please keep an eye on children and dogs
The danger is very real.
Beautiful views over much of the loop.
The marker post for the return loop has been damaged and about 500m further on, the path is steep, with a steep descent and a ravine. The unstable ground over a hundred metres requires particular attention. For me, this is the most difficult technical section of the route.
The route is shaded, which is very pleasant in hot weather.
Without rushing, the actual walking time was 3 hours and 15 minutes.

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User 15754845

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this superb hike, rich in landscapes and surprises, with karstic caves, a dolmen, a grotto, breathtaking scenery, and a few vultures... it was a feast for the eyes! The starting point, Brissac, is a little gem with its park and miniature church, perfect for a picnic at the end. The trail is well maintained, well marked, and the explanations are clear, especially with the GPS beacon. Just remember to wear good shoes as there are many stony sections, which can be tiring for your ankles, but nothing insurmountable! We highly recommend it!

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ThierryMtp
ThierryMtp

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful day. Between 3 and 3½ hours of walking, but if you take the time to admire the rocks and their inclusions, the cave and the scenery, you should allow a little more time The small, somewhat inconspicuous cairns mark the path to the cave, which is very beautiful.

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Fannny
Fannny

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the forest, which is not too busy, making it very pleasant. We missed the turn-off to the cave, but we did get to see the karstic cave and the bats.

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marsserou
marsserou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Interesting hike, beautiful view over the entire plain on the Ganges side, Laroque...
Good explanations and sufficient details, but be aware that some sections are not marked.

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toto34690
toto34690

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike in March.
The GPS coordinates for the cave are slightly off; you need to continue along the path a little further and turn right onto a path that is a little better marked.
There are bats in the cave, so do not shine your torch directly on them; use a red light instead.
The cave is easy to access and not dangerous. There are no holes or water.
The paths are not particularly difficult, a little rocky in places but fine.
Several beautiful views over the valley.
And a charming village at the start/finish.

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mimijulien
mimijulien

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

magnificent views, impressive karstic cave, grotto (you'll be left speechless – to get there, look for the two small cairns on your left on the main path and don't forget your torch!)
Thanks to the hiker, without whom we would not have been able to discover all these natural wonders.

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El Pecos
El Pecos
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and varied 3- or 4-hour hike if you take your time. Accurate GPS. Fun bonus along the way: a visit to the small cave in the Bois de Long (80 metres long and horizontal). Bring a torch. Before turning back, check out the magnificent entrance to the Gouffre de Rabanel (-185 metres). But this is where the speleologists' domain begins... On the way back, towards Brissac, there are springs everywhere (it's May) feeding the Aveze. Refreshing.
PS: the chain covered with a red pipe mentioned in a recent review does not close off a private path, but indicates that the area is flooded. It can be stepped over, as it is a public path, to reach Brissac directly 200 metres further on. Your feet will hardly get wet.

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Agnès Dupont
Agnès Dupont

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hiking blindly... 😂 Between random markings for a long time and GPS tracks that don't match... I ended up walking a few extra kilometres.
✔️ For the cave (point 5). Go past point 5 on the route and continue to the next path (dotted line). ⚠️Do not follow the route as it may be dangerous 😉.
✔️ You cannot reach the destination as planned because it is private property closed off by a chain. So you have to follow the path that branches off to the left and runs alongside the Avèze river. But ⚠️ this route is not possible if it has rained heavily.
There you go... But in any case, it's worth doing this circular with its beautiful, varied, but above all rocky landscapes.

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TomTom34
TomTom34

Actually, I just saw it 🤣 We made two mistakes and kept climbing for a while before turning back. Have a good day

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lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★

Hello kris.teyran

Indeed.

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kris.teyran
kris.teyran

Hello Tom Tom 34. To climb 900 metres, you must have taken a detour. The hike described is around 300 metres.
Enjoy your future hikes!

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TomTom34
TomTom34

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice but 900m elevation gain

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NicoSud
NicoSud
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Moderate difficulty as indicated and an overall easy route to follow. Some trial and error in finding the karstic caves and caves, but this was more due to my (in)competence than the route itself In the end, we were able to see all the points of interest. Beautiful view of the valley and other mountain ranges.

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