DISCOVERING THE ENCHANTING cave of comblain and its UNEXPECTED mineral and LIVING treasures
Laura et Seb, les Globe blogueurs
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Slow travel with the family
The ENCHANTING Cave of Comblain, AND its UNEXPECTED mineral and LIVING TREASURES
4 minutes FULL OF UNEXPECTED DISCOVERIES
Caves have the special capacity to stimulate our imagination and feed our fantasy.
Fairy-tale locations for some, scary caverns to others, caves rarely leave visitors indifferent, be they young or old.
In the Cave of Comblain, we learnt quite a bit about this unique universe, a visit filled with awe-inspiring and unexpected discoveries.
Caves, an environment that is both intriguing and scary
The first time you visit a cave, it’s like entering a whole new world, radically different from everything that is familiar. First of all, we were surprised by the cave's temperature, which is the same all year round: delightfully cool in the summer and mild in the winter. We learn that a cave’s temperature matches the average annual temperature of its location
Then comes semi-darkness. Even though the cave of Comblain is lighted by lamps, it is quite impossible not to be impressed by the obscure quiet that reigns in these cavities. We even experienced total darkness in the caves, which left quite an impression! Just try to wave your hand in front of your face; you won’t be able to see your hand, but you will feel its warmth. In the dark, your other senses tend to be sharpened to the extreme.
What most impressed us in this sensory experience is how incredibly quiet the caves are. Sometimes, the silence is absolute, and at other times the silence is barely broken by the plop plop of drops falling from the ceiling, or the barely audible cry of a bat…
But what really strikes me is how serene the cave is; it is a truly tranquil place far away from the madding crowd and the hubbub of the outside world with its permanent stimuli.
In Comblain, our son – initially overwhelmed by this seemingly inert and barren environment - was gradually won over by the cave’s tranquillity.
The caves of Comblain, not as desolate as they look
Our first impression is that of an austere universe, but, little by little, the cave of Comblain reveals the secrets of its muffled universe to us, thanks to the guide who accompanies us on our tour. As we arrived late afternoon, we are treated to an almost private visit, even though we are in the middle of summer. We probably just got lucky, but it made the experience all the more immersive.
Beyond the sensory experience, we discover a fascinating universe, filled with interesting details. How was the cave formed? By which phenomena are concretions (stalactites, pillars, draperies, columns, etc.) created?
But there is so much more to discover than geological phenomena, so much more to admire than the extravagantly shaped concretions and the slow process of water erosion .
Exploring your 5 senses in the Cave of Comblain - L. le Guen
There is life underground!
In spite of the semi-darkness and the absence of plant life, a number of living organisms have managed to adapt to this extraordinary milieu.
Besides the bats and other small animals that seek refuge in the caves, a number of insects and microorganisms manage to survive by feeding on the scarce organic waste that are brought in from the outside either by water or passing animals. Some species are even endemic, and can only be found in several caves, sometimes only in one cave!
Our son was absolutely gobsmacked by the many discoveries. How could we have suspected that - underneath its apparent austerity - the cave was teeming with life? How could we have known that in this huge and silent dark hole, treasures of biodiversity could be found, creations worthy of the greatest artists?
Clear and entertaining explanations! - L. le Guen
At the end our visit, we were treated to an enlightening (and easy to grasp) commentary by our top-notch tour guide; probably by the most knowledgeable and engaging guide I have ever seen!
Aided by several animated scale models, our guide retraces the geological history of the Cave of Comblain. He gives such a rousing performance that our son is spellbound by his explanations, no mean feat when your audience is a four-year- old boy! He explains everything, from the composition of the limestone underground, to how the caves where shaped and carved out. He manages to explain a rather complicated phenomenon, while rendering it simple and interesting, nicely done!
Discovering bats, those mysterious mammals
But our explorations and discoveries continued. We had read that the cave was noteworthy for being home to numerous species of bats. Eight different species of bats have been observed in Comblain, constituting a Belgian record!
So, I go back to the cave just before nightfall for an after-hours visit with as theme the discovery of the world of bats. This themed visit only takes place a couple of times per year. As soon as we arrive, the tone is set: quirky, funny and even artistic.
The guide that accompanied us on our earlier tour of the cave, is now made up to look like a mad scientist complete with a white lab jacket and wildly dishevelled hair. Without further ado, he introduces us to a rather special bat…A human-sized bat, with a striking resemblance to another of the cave’s guides, hmm…
A quirky visit during Bat Night - L. le Guen
Then ensues an extraordinary perambulation, sometimes quirky, sometimes educational, but always loads of fun!
We discover many different aspects of bats: false beliefs, the different species, what bats eat, bat reproduction…And every single subject is approaced with humour and intelligence.
After about an hour, during which time seemed to fly by, we settle down near the waterway. Night has fallen, and now comes the time to sit quietly and observe. Equipped with a device (I think it is called a bat detector) we discover the many different sounds the bats make in order to locate obstacles in total darkness. It turns out their cries are actually a kind of ultra-sophisticated sonar! Then, lighted by a powerful torch, we see the bats, silently flitting around above the water, hunting for nocturnal insects.
After a couple of minutes of absolute calm, this magnificent air ballet is punctuated by a sweet melody sung by our guides (and actor-singers!).
A moment of pure grace, cloaked in poetical tranquillity.
Enjoy this experience
La Grotte de Comblain (The Cave of Comblain)
Rue des Grottes, 46 - 4170 Comblain-au-pont
Tel: +32 4 369 26 44
http://www.grottedecomblain.be/
Opening times
Open on every day, except on Fridays, from 15 June to 15 September
Open every day, from 26 October to 5 November
Cave tours are held at 11:00, 13:00, 14:30 &16:00
Open all year round on request for groups of more than 15
The visit lasts 75 minutes
Tickets
€ 8,50 for visitors from the age of 12
€ 6,50€ for children between the ages of 4 and 11
Free for children under 4
But what really strikes me is how serene the cave is; it is a truly tranquil place far away from the madding crowd and the hubbub of the outside world with its permanent stimuli.