You must enter fearlessly, not knowing what surprise awaits you there.

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2 You must enter fearlessly, not knowing what surprise awaits you there. ÉDOUARD-ALFRED MARTEL, FIRST EXPLORER OF THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC

THE INCREDIBLE UNDERGROUND ADVENTURE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE DORDOGNE VALLEY, IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE LOT, NEAR ROCAMADOUR, THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC IS THE FIRST UNDERGROUNG NATURAL HERITAGE SITE

3 THE INCREDIBLE UNDERGROUND ADVENTURE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE DORDOGNE VALLEY, IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE LOT, NEAR ROCAMADOUR, THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC IS THE FIRST UNDERGROUNG NATURAL HERITAGE SITE IN FRANCE A natural cavity with a diameter of 33 metres and a depth of 75 metres, it is considered to be a major geological curiosity and was first explored in 1889 by Édouard-Alfred Martel. One of the Occitania region s most popular tourist sites, the Gouffre de Padirac is open to the public from the beginning of the Easter holidays to early November saw record attendance, with over 480,000 visitors. ÉDOUARD-ALFRED MARTEL More than 24 million people have been thrilled by the Gouffre de Padirac since it opened to the public in

EXPLORING THE GOUFFRE THE VISIT STARTS WITH THE DESCENT OF A STAIRCASE INSPIRED BY THE EIFFEL TOWER, WITH 207 STEPS, OUT OF A TOTAL OF 543 FOR THE FULL TOUR. THREE LIFTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

4 EXPLORING THE GOUFFRE THE VISIT STARTS WITH THE DESCENT OF A STAIRCASE INSPIRED BY THE EIFFEL TOWER, WITH 207 STEPS, OUT OF A TOTAL OF 543 FOR THE FULL TOUR. THREE LIFTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. The journey continues with the exploration of galleries that are only accessible on foot. We see a rock carved and polished by centuries of erosion. A few hundred metres further on, there is a pier, where we take our places in a boat with our guide, to continue the visit by water! A majestic stalactite appears above us, 60 metres in length, known as the Grande Penedeloque ( Great Chandelier ). The tears that run down its sides fall into the lake, leaving behind them the gentle tinkling sound of the drops on the water. It is a wonderful spectacle. Continuing into the bowels of the Earth, we walk to the Grand Dôme ("Hall of the Great Dome") a real underground cathedral, 94 metres high, where life appears frozen, as if to show us nature s magnificence, offering us fluid limestone flowers, alabaster fonts, stacks of plates, draperies, lace, stalactites and stalagmites. Going back down the Grand Dôme,we come to the Grande Colonne ("Great Column"), a spectacular 75 metrelong stalactite. ENTRANCE PAVILION GRAND ESCALIER (MAIN ESCALIER) GRANDE PENDELOQUE (GREAT CHANDELIER) LAC SUPÉRIEUR (UPPER LAKE) SALLE DU GRAND DÔME (HALL OF THE GREAT DOME) PILE D ASSIETTES (PILE OF PLATES) surface - 50 m GALERIE DE LA SOURCE (SPRING GALLERY) m RIVIÈRE PLANE (PLANE RIVER) LIFTS SOURCE LANDING STAGE LAC DE LA PLUIE (RAIN LAKE) LANDING STAGE LAC DES GOURS (DAM LAKE) 2

5 KEY FIGURES TOUR DURATION APPROXIMATELY 1h30 42 km MAPPED TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE CAVE 13 C MAXIMUM CAPACITY 8000 VISITORS PER DAY TOUR DISTANCE 2,2 km INCLUDING 1KM BY BOAT 94 m THE HEIGHT OF THE VAULT OF THE SALLE DU GRAND DÔME HUMIDITY LEVEL 98% WATER TEMPERATURE 12 C 33

THE SOCIÉTÉ D EXPLOITATIONS SPÉLÉOLOGIQUES DE PADIRAC : AN INTER- GENERATIONAL COMMITMENT GEORGE BEAMISH WAS ONE OF THE MAIN INVESTORS IN THE PUITS DE PADIRAC COMPANY LTD, FOUNDED IN 1898 WITH

6 THE SOCIÉTÉ D EXPLOITATIONS SPÉLÉOLOGIQUES DE PADIRAC : AN INTER- GENERATIONAL COMMITMENT GEORGE BEAMISH WAS ONE OF THE MAIN INVESTORS IN THE PUITS DE PADIRAC COMPANY LTD, FOUNDED IN 1898 WITH ÉDOUARD-ALFRED MARTEL, ITS PURPOSE WAS "TO ENABLE ACCESS AND TOURS OF THE CHASM, CAVES AND RIVER OF THE PUITS DE PADIRAC." Following his death, a few months before the official opening of the site, his son William Beamish, a director and then President of the company until 1969, contributed to the development of the site as a tourist attraction and its national reputation, grasping very early on the impact that rising car ownership and paid holidays would have on tourism, and the value of advertising. He encouraged the modernization of the access and reception facilities, and authorized the continuation of the speleological exploration of the Chasm. 4

LÆTITIA DE MÉNIBUS-GRAVIER, WILLIAM BEAMISH S GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER, IS THE FIFTH GENERATION TO MANAGE THE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC, BECOMING PRESIDENT IN 2005 AND UNDERTAKING TO

7 LÆTITIA DE MÉNIBUS-GRAVIER, WILLIAM BEAMISH S GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER, IS THE FIFTH GENERATION TO MANAGE THE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC, BECOMING PRESIDENT IN 2005 AND UNDERTAKING TO LAUNCH A NEW CHAPTER IN ITS HISTORY, WITH AN ENERGETIC PROGRAMME TO RESTORE THE IMAGE AND APPEAL OF THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC. VISITOR NUMBERS OVER THE YEARS: ,935 VISITORS ,789 VISITORS 2017 MORE THAN 480,000 VISITORS The operating company now provides visitors, whether residents or tourists, with a cultural and artistic programme including photo exhibitions, recitals and events. Access to everything for everyone remains a strong commitment for France s foremost underground natural heritage site. This is demonstrated by support for charities through specific initiatives, by greater scientific and cultural accessibility with school visits and by providing educational tools. Scanned archive material is also available to all via the Padiracothèque. As part of this objective to highlight the cultural value of this natural underground monument, Lætitia de Ménibus- Gravier recently initiated a structural and landscaping project to improve the reception facilities for the Gouffre de Padirac, which will celebrate the 130 th anniversary of its discovery in World-renowned architects were invited to submit proposals; this major project will enable a diversification of the activities and services offered by the site. It includes the creation of an interpretation centre, a nomad-style hotel, and educational workshops. The goal is to become a European reference site in the world of caves and chasms. Diversifying the reception facilities will increase capacity to between 600,000 and 800,000 visitors per year. LÆTITIA DE MÉNIBUS-GRAVIER WORKS ACTIVELY TO IMPROVE AND DEVELOP TOURISM IN THE REGION. SINCE THE END OF 2015 SHE HAS BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION TOURISTIC VALLÉE(S) LOT ET DORDOGNE (TVLD LOT AND DORDOGNE VALLEY(S) TOURISM ASSOCIATION), ONE OF THE LEADING CLUSTERS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY (285 TOURISM SERVICE PROVIDERS REPRESENTED). FORMED ON THE INITIATIVE OF LOT VALLEY TOURISM PROFESSIONALS, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE LOT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. 5

130 YEARS OF HISTORY 09 JULY 1889 ÉDOUARD-ALFRED MARTEL FIRST DESCENDED INTO THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC APRIL 1898 DATE OF THE FIRST BUILDING WORKS 1 NOVEMBER 1898 FIRST TOURIST 10 APRIL 1899 DATE OF

8 130 YEARS OF HISTORY 09 JULY 1889 ÉDOUARD-ALFRED MARTEL FIRST DESCENDED INTO THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC APRIL 1898 DATE OF THE FIRST BUILDING WORKS 1 NOVEMBER 1898 FIRST TOURIST 10 APRIL 1899 DATE OF OFFICIAL INAUGURATION, ATTENDED BY THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC HAS A PROMINENT ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF SPELEOLOGY. IT WAS DISCOVERED BY NONE OTHER THAN THE FATHER OF MODERN SPELEOLOGY, ÉDOUARD-ALFRED MARTEL, A PIONEER IN EXPLORING AND PRESERVING THE UNDERGROUND WORLD. ÉDOUARD-ALFRED MARTEL MADE THE FIRST OF HIS MANY DISCOVERIES IN 1888 AND STARTED THE WORK THAT WAS TO EARN HIM THE TITLE OF BENEFACTOR OF HUMANITY AND WHICH LED TO THE MARTEL ACT. In July 1889, French speleology came of age when in the course of his 24 th expedition, Martel and his team discovered the Gouffre de Padirac. At midday on 9 June 1889, equipped with candles, hemp ropes, beasts of burden and heavy rope ladders with wooden rungs, Édouard-Alfred Martel descended into the Gouffre de Padirac. Hanging onto a 75 metre-long cable, he lowered himself into the centre of the earth. When his foot touched ground, he was to penetrate the abyss then known locally as the Devil s hole. Martel and his team launched themselves into the discovery of the unknown. Halted in their expedition when the water level made the route impassable, they had to turn back. The next day at dawn, Martel went back down with a magnesium lamp and a dinghy for navigating what was later to be known as La Rivière Plane (Plane River). Martel quickly set about making it possible for the public to visit his discovery: to help fund the project, he teamed up with George Beamish, a descendant of the Irish brewing family of the same name, and after many months of work the first visitors descended into the Gouffre de Padirac on 1 November ÉDOUARD-ALFRED MARTEL, "BENEFACTOR OF HUMINITY" Born into a family of lawyers, Martel ( ) was destined for a career in law. But his passion lay elsewhere, in the depths of the earth. At the age of 7 he visited the Gargas caves in the Pyrenees and later spent all his holidays and leisure time travelling through France (and neighbouring countries) and charting his travels. In 1877, aged 18, he won first prize for geography in the concours général, a prestigious national schools competition. He graduated in law in

Torn between his passion for caving and a career at the Bar, Martel finally decided in 1888 to devote himself to exploration. This founding father of modern speleology made numerous discoveries.

This legislation, introduced on 15 February 1902, prohibits the throwing dead animals into natural limestone cavities.

In 1913, following his visit to the Yosemite Valley on the American west coast, protected by decree since 1864, Édouard-Alfred Martel published a report on national parks around the world.

9 Torn between his passion for caving and a career at the Bar, Martel finally decided in 1888 to devote himself to exploration. This founding father of modern speleology made numerous discoveries. His work with Professor Eugène Fournier on the hygiene of springs and the spreading of certain epidemics earned him the title of Benefactor of Humanity, and formed the basis of the Martel Act. This legislation, introduced on 15 February 1902, prohibits the throwing dead animals into natural limestone cavities. Édouard-Alfred Martel was not only the driving force behind legislation to protect underground water, but was also the originator of the French national park system. In 1913, following his visit to the Yosemite Valley on the American west coast, protected by decree since 1864, Édouard-Alfred Martel published a report on national parks around the world. His proposed definition was a territorial reserve with precise boundaries, within which appropriate legal measures conserve and protect against any destruction, deterioration or defacement caused by man the natural features, fauna, flora, picturesque sites, and geological or hydrological particularities. On the strength of this definition, Édouard-Alfred Martel suggested to the French state the classification of several hundred sites across seventy departments. MARTEL: THE FOUNDING FATHER OF SPELEOLOGY The Gouffre de Padirac has earned a place in the long history of speleology. Although the beginnings of this discipline go back to the 13 th century, and more precisely to 1213 in Austria, it was only in the 16 th century that the first more or less realistic accounts of certain explorations began to appear. However, it was not until the 19 th century and the intrepid Martel that speleology gained the status of a serious field of study. June 1888 was marked by a succession of important discoveries that were to contribute to the birth of modern speleology, such as the entire crossing of the chasm of Bramabiau by Édouard-Alfred Martel, bringing to light two kilometres of underground galleries. In 1890, the word spelaeologie was invented. It was subsequently to become speleology. Edouard-Alfred Martel, pioneer of exploration through his expeditions, his discoveries and his writings such as Les Abîmes in 1894, and La France Ignorée in 1928, contributed to making speleology a new scientific discipline, offering over 1,000 publications. 7

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11 Reality surpassed my imagination s dreams... Nowhere else has nature constructed a more extraordinary monument ÉDOUARD-ALFRED MARTEL, FIRST EXPLORER OF THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC 9

A PLACE OF ADVENTURE AND LEARNING FOR EVERYONE THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC IS NOT ONLY A MAJOR GEOLOGICAL TOURISM SITE AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, IT ALSO REPRESENTS A REAL-LIFE ADVENTURE FOR ALL THE

THE WATER CYCLE OR BIRTH OF THE UNDERGROUND RIVER OF PADIRAC THE KARST SYSTEM OR ARCHITECT OF THE LAND A karst system occurs when the ground is modelled by the action of rainwater that infiltrates

12 A PLACE OF ADVENTURE AND LEARNING FOR EVERYONE THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC IS NOT ONLY A MAJOR GEOLOGICAL TOURISM SITE AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, IT ALSO REPRESENTS A REAL-LIFE ADVENTURE FOR ALL THE FAMILY. THE WATER CYCLE OR BIRTH OF THE UNDERGROUND RIVER OF PADIRAC THE KARST SYSTEM OR ARCHITECT OF THE LAND A karst system occurs when the ground is modelled by the action of rainwater that infiltrates through cracks. Upon contact with vegetation, this water becomes charged with carbon dioxide. The CO 2 makes it slightly acidic, and this acidity dissolves the limestone and enlarges the cracks. This forms underground cavities such as halls and galleries. On the surface, the karst system causes hollows to appear in the ground, called sinkholes, which are sometimes so deep that they can be qualified as chasms (known as igues in the Quercy area). The concretions form by reverse reaction: in passing through the air the water gives off CO 2, becomes less acidic and so deposits limestone on the rock. Numerous concretions form the Gouffre de Padirac s fantastic decor: stalactites, stalagmites, draperies and even gours, rimstone dams created by the river These sculptures created by nature are explained to both children and adults during their visit. The water of the oceans evaporates under the heat from the sun. It then rejoins the atmosphere in the form of vapour. The water vapour cools upon rising and ends up forming droplets that condense into clouds. The water from the clouds falls on the continents as precipitation of rain or snow. Having arrived on the surface, the drops infiltrate the earth and rocks to create small underground streams, which then come together to form an underground river. The progress of the drops is still not finished, however. At Padirac, this underground river makes its main spring as the Saint- Georges Fountain, and then flows into the Dordogne. Its course leads it to the ocean, where it evaporates again to perpetuate the endless water cycle 10

THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC, CUSTODIAN OF THE BALANCE OF BIODIVERSITY No fewer than 8 species of bats, including 3 threatened with extinction, have taken up residence in the undeveloped parts of the

The underground river is home to aquatic fauna such as the Niphargus, a tiny white, blind cave-dwelling shrimp that is very common in cavities, as well as a unique species, the Bythinelle of Padirac.

GIVING FREE REIN TO THE IMAGINATION IN THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC A mysterious abyss before its exploration, the Gouffre de Padirac has nourished the collective imagination.

13 THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC, CUSTODIAN OF THE BALANCE OF BIODIVERSITY No fewer than 8 species of bats, including 3 threatened with extinction, have taken up residence in the undeveloped parts of the Gouffre de Padirac. The underground river is home to aquatic fauna such as the Niphargus, a tiny white, blind cave-dwelling shrimp that is very common in cavities, as well as a unique species, the Bythinelle of Padirac. As its name indicates, this small aquatic snail measuring just 3 mm lives only in the underground river of Padirac, of which it is an endemic species. GIVING FREE REIN TO THE IMAGINATION IN THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC A mysterious abyss before its exploration, the Gouffre de Padirac has nourished the collective imagination. Legend has it that Saint-Martin, walking across the Causse in the search of lost souls to save, came across Satan, who threw him a challenge: to get over the obstacle that he would point out to him, failing which he was to give up his sack full of souls. The Devil then struck the ground so hard with his forked foot that a vast breach opened up. Saint Martin s mount rose to the challenge without difficulty, with such ardour that one of his hoof prints was to remain engraved in the ground. Furious, Satan then disappeared into the depths of the chasm of Padirac. Today a visit to the Gouffre de Padirac still offers children an opportunity to explore a dreamlike realm of a type that they will rarely encounter. SCIENCE, A REFLECTION OF THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIETIES Even though the Gouffre de Padirac inspires reverie, this site is a reminder of how scientific curiosity proved stronger than superstition; it enabled significant discoveries to be made thanks to exploration, and led to the establishment of the science named speleology. 11

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A CAVE OPEN TO EXPLORATION THAT CONTINUES TO REVEAL ITS SECRETS TO SPELEOLOGISTS TODAY FROM THE OUTSET, THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC BECAME AN EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIMENTATION GROUND FOR MODERN SPELEOLOGY.

15 A CAVE OPEN TO EXPLORATION THAT CONTINUES TO REVEAL ITS SECRETS TO SPELEOLOGISTS TODAY FROM THE OUTSET, THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC BECAME AN EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIMENTATION GROUND FOR MODERN SPELEOLOGY. THE CROSSINGS IN 1996 AND 2014 REVEALED THE FULL MAGNITUDE OF THE PADIRAC CAVE SYSTEM. The connection between the resurgent waters of the Padirac River and the Gouffre was explored in 1996 from La Finou by Bernard Gauche and in 2014 from La Fontaine Saint- Georges by Clément Chaput. From 2 to 6 November 2016, 11 cave divers from all over France spent five days underground exploring the Gouffre de Padirac system to discover more about one of Europe's major geological curiosities. Guided by Bernard Gauche, a doctor from Libourne and explorer of the Gouffre de Padirac for over 20 years, the speleologists travelled through the darkness of this aquatic subterranean labyrinth with the aim of continuing the exploration that started several years ago, in particular the crossings of 1996 and This new expedition, which was composed of three explorations of differing scope (the deep network, the upper siphon and the Viré tributary) uncovered the existence of a further 250 metres of network. 13

THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC SHARES ITS FREE DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES MINDFUL OF THE SITE S EXCEPTIONAL

A BROADER PUBLIC, THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC MAKES ITS VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO

FACT SHEETS In conjunction with school curriculums, the fact sheets enable teachers and students to

The tour of the Gouffre de Padirac offers school groups five key areas of educational interest,

L ESPRIT SORCIER" POPULAR SCIENCE PROGRAMME The Gouffre de Padirac launches an educational facility

16 THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC SHARES ITS FREE DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES MINDFUL OF THE SITE S EXCEPTIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND GEOLOGICAL VALUE, AND WITH A DESIRE TO PROMOTE SCIENCE AND MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO A BROADER PUBLIC, THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC MAKES ITS VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. FACT SHEETS In conjunction with school curriculums, the fact sheets enable teachers and students to learn more about the site before or after their visit. The tour of the Gouffre de Padirac offers school groups five key areas of educational interest, which are developed in the fact sheets according to different age groups (primary, lower secondary and upper secondary years). Educational sheets are available in French only; quizz sheets in French and English. L ESPRIT SORCIER" POPULAR SCIENCE PROGRAMME The Gouffre de Padirac launches an educational facility which introduces children and adults to the wonders of this extraordinary natural monument (online and with video), in collaboration with L Esprit Sorcier (a French popular science programme founded by Frédéric Courant, the Fred of "Fred & Jamy, who presented "C est pas Sorcier, a popular science TV series). Available in French and English. 14

THE PADIRACOTHEQUE (ONLINE ARCHIVES) More than 1,500 documents from 1889 to the present day, 130 years of archives about the Gouffre de Padirac

The cultural and historic heritage that composes the Padiracothèque s document collection contains a large number of unique archives:

The Padiracothèque is intended as much for professionals as for students and history enthusiasts. WWW.PADIRACOTHEQUE.

17 THE PADIRACOTHEQUE (ONLINE ARCHIVES) More than 1,500 documents from 1889 to the present day, 130 years of archives about the Gouffre de Padirac and its discoverer, Édouard-Alfred Martel. The cultural and historic heritage that composes the Padiracothèque s document collection contains a large number of unique archives: photographs, drawings, postcards, plans, posters, etc. It is constantly being updated with new pictures, scans and discoveries. The Padiracothèque is intended as much for professionals as for students and history enthusiasts. MEDIATION WORKSHOPS Initiated in the summer 2017, these entertaining, educational workshops are offered to visitors - children and adults - by our scientific and cultural mediation team, with a view to taking their knowledge a step further (available during school holidays and on request). 15

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THREE POSSIBILITIES FOR FOOD AND REFRESHMENT L Auberge REGIONAL CUISINE & DELICATESSEN COUNTER La Buvette OPEN-AIR SNACK BAR IN THE MIDDLE

19 A TASTY AND UNFORGETTABLE DAY A VISIT TO THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC PROMISES TO BE AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY. MANY VISITORS EXTEND THE EXPERIENCE WITH A WALK IN THE WOODED PARK, AND/OR SOME REFRESHMENT TURNING THE VISIT INTO A DAY TRIP. THREE POSSIBILITIES FOR FOOD AND REFRESHMENT L Auberge REGIONAL CUISINE & DELICATESSEN COUNTER La Buvette OPEN-AIR SNACK BAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK Le Kiosque SNACKS, PANCAKES, SWEETS, ICE-CREAM BOUTIQUE- BOOKSHOP A WIDE SELECTION OF BOOKS, SOUVENIRS, AND GIFTS FROM THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC. OPEN 7 DAYS/7 PLAY AREA FREE CAR PARKS 17

20 THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC, ONE OF THE DORDOGNE VALLEY S OUTSTANDING SITES 18

21 The Lot offers an unforgettable experience, laced with authentic and fascinating encounter. FROM THE ARID CAUSSE PLATEAUS TO THE WOODED HILLS OF XAINTRIE, EXPLORE THE WONDERS OF THE DORDOGNE VALLEY, A MEMBER OF THE WORLD NETWORK OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES RECOGNIZED BY UNESCO: REMARKABLE LANDSCAPES, EXCEPTIONAL ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE, A LAND RICH IN GASTRONOMIC TRADITIONS, NUMEROUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & CULTURAL FESTIVALS... Civilization goes back thousands of years in this region: traces still remain of the first humans, including magnificent examples of cave art and prehistoric drawings. Over the centuries, an exceptional heritage has accumulated: castles, churches, buildings, medieval villages etc. Six of the most beautiful villages in France are located on the banks of the river - Autoire, Carennac, Loubressac, Turenne, Collonges-la-Rouge and Curemonte - near the Gouffre de Padirac, the holy city of Rocamadour and the Causses du Quercy Regional Nature Park. The Dordogne Valley is known for its superb cuisine: gourmet experiences are a way of life here, thanks to the region s dedicated farmers, producers and chefs. There are also numerous festivals to be enjoyed, real celebrations of art and culture, they often take place in extraordinary settings; among the most well-known, there is the Rocamadour Festival of Sacred Music, Souillac en Jazz, Saint-Céré Opera Festival, Collonges-la-Rouge Theatre Festival... This tourist destination offers remarkable landscapes, providing an idyllic setting for a wide range of leisure and outdoor activities such as canoeing, swimming in the river and walks. The Lot is sure to offer you a memorable stay, full of authentic, thrilling experiences! 19

22 ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC PARIS LIMOGES SARLAT BORDEAUX CLERMOND-FD LYON CAHORS TOULOUSE Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne Airport: 45 mins Périgueux Airport: 1 hour 30 mins Toulouse-Blagnac Airport / Limoges: 2 hours 20

GRAPHIC DESIGN: AGENCE HALLEY&CO PRESS CONTACT - GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC Press Office Pascale Venot JESSICA SAUGIER 6 RUE PAUL BAUDRY - 75008 PARIS +33 (0)1 53 53 44 60 JESSICA@PASCALEVENOT.

23 GRAPHIC DESIGN: AGENCE HALLEY&CO PRESS CONTACT - GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC Press Office Pascale Venot JESSICA SAUGIER 6 RUE PAUL BAUDRY PARIS +33 (0) JESSICA@PASCALEVENOT.FR GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC PADIRAC + 33 (0) PHOTO CREDITS: 1 ST ET 2 ND COVERS: C. GERIGK / SES DE PADIRAC - P.1: ANONYME / SES DE PADIRAC - P.2: D. BUTAEYE / SES DE PADIRAC - P : C. GERIGK / SES DE PADIRAC - P.4: HARCOURT / SES DE PADIRAC - P.5: JLBPHOTO / SES DE PADIRAC - P.6: ANONYME / SES DE PADIRAC - P.7: TOP AND CENTER: SLOM / SES DE PADIRAC - BOTTOM: A. VIRÉ / SES DE PADIRAC - P.10: TOP: DECOBOX / SES DE PADIRAC - BOTTOM: C. GERIGK / SES DE PADIRAC - P.13: P. GEDEI / SES DE PADIRAC - P.14: TOP: LA PETITE BOÎTE / SES DE PADIRAC - BOTTOM: SES DE PADIRAC - P.15: TOP: C. GERIGK / SES DE PADIRAC - CENTER: L. NESPOULOUS / SES DE PADIRAC - BOTTOM: SES DE PADIRAC - P17: C. ORY / OTVD - P.18: O. GACHEN / ADRT CORRÈZE - P.19: C. ORY / OTVD

1 st. 2,2 km. 33 m. 103 m. 75 m 480,000 FRANCE'S MOST VISITED NATURAL SUBTERRANEAN TOURIST SITE OF TRAILS TO VISIT EITHER ON FOOT OR BY BOAT

1 st. 2,2 km. 33 m. 103 m. 75 m 480,000 FRANCE'S MOST VISITED NATURAL SUBTERRANEAN TOURIST SITE OF TRAILS TO VISIT EITHER ON FOOT OR BY BOAT 1 st FRANCE'S MOST VISITED NATURAL SUBTERRANEAN TOURIST SITE 2,2 km OF TRAILS TO VISIT EITHER ON FOOT OR BY BOAT A NATURAL CHASM 33 m IN DIAMETER A SUBTERRANEAN RIVER 103 m BENEATH THE EARTH'S SURFACE