Discovery
Cave of Saint-Marcel: plan the visit from Saint-Montan
The Saint-Marcel cave is reached by the tourist route of the gorges. Its name can be misleading on the journey: the entrance is in Bidon, not in the village of Saint-Marcel-d'Ardèche. This is the address you must register before leaving.
The guided tour and its stairs
The route passes through the gour rooms and pools. To prepare for the visit, the most useful information is the effort required: the official information count 416 total steps, descent and ascent. The cave is not wheelchair accessible.
The ticket office indicates the departures and the chosen formula. Plan a guided tour of approximately 1:15, and arrive at reception 10 minutes before. For people bothered by stairs, ask the site for advice before purchasing.
Tickets, clothing and calendar
Take warm clothing: the cave announces 14 °C, even when the day is hot outside. Toddlers must be sufficiently covered. Every child under the age of 10 must have their free ticket.
At 6 October 2026, the announced opening goes from 1er April to 1er November. October hours are from 11:00 to 17:00, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays outside school holidays. Check the departures for your date and the price of your service on the official website ; this season does not constitute a calendar for the following year.
Arrive at the cave, not the village
The address is 2759 Tourist route of the Ardèche Gorges, 07700 Can. Visitor parking is free while the site is open, then closed; overnight parking is prohibited.
The bus line to the village of Saint-Marcel does not serve the cave. If you travel without a car, organize this last part of the journey before booking.
Organized visit or caving trip?
The site also offers supervised caving outings and oenological services. They have their own ages, durations and access conditions: a place on a classic visit does not include them. Consult the exact formula rather than choosing only on the name of the activity. To discover the region’s vineyards, also find the Côtes-du-Vivarais around Saint-Montan.
For a group with children, compare the effort with the other caves of Ardèche. A day of family canoe is prepared separately, with its age and swimming conditions. The rainy weather activities and the guide to outings in high heat also allow you to plan another day.
On your return, keep time in Saint-Montan
After the visit, choose a stop on the belvedere route or go directly to the Mas. No need to add a swim and a second site if the group has already walked enough.
Our six lodgings allow you to keep the same accommodation for several outings, with a week organized from a single address. The village of Saint-Montan is visited another day, and the Mas swimming pool generally opens from mid-May to September depending on the weather. For dates of stay, contact Pascale.
Practical questions
Is the Saint-Marcel cave accessible by wheelchair?
No. The announced route has 416 steps in total, both down and up. Ask the site for details if your group has difficulty with stairs.
Where is the entrance to the Saint-Marcel cave?
In Bidon, at 2759 Tourist route of the Gorges de l’Ardèche. Transport to the village of Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche does not serve this entrance.