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CAVING IN BELGIUM: THE BELGIAN CAVE GUIDE
Trou de l'Eglise - Mont-sur-Meuse (No.
07)
LOCATION:
Province: Namur
Locality: Mont-sur-Meuse (Yvoir)
Coordinates: 187.904 / 115.953 / 199.24 m
Map: 53/4
Take direction Mont-sur-Meuse, coming from the river "Meuse". Enter
the village and stop at the church. The cave is in a large sinkhole,
opposite to the church.
HISTORY:
 The
cave was discovered by Bernard Magos, after digging out the entrance, in
1950. First exploration by a team of the U.L.B. Since then, many teams
have tried their luck in this cave but really big discoveries were never
made again. However, some significant continuations were found (e.g. Réseau
du Cimétière) but the authors remain unknown.
ACCESS:
Originally the cave has two entrances, but one collapsed in the 80's.
The entrance that one takes nowadays is a narrow slot in which the (tiny)
river disappears. A heavy steel door, with a U.B.S. lock, closes the
cave. Contact the Belgian Caving Federations to obtain the key.
DESCRIPTION:
Length: 1065 m, Depth: 78 m
Originally this was one of the most decorated caves in the country!
However, this easy cave was quickly used a "school cave" and suffered (and
still does!) from the huge quantities of visitors.
Nevertheless, it stays an interesting and varied cave. At the foot
of the entrance pitch, several ways lead to the impressive (2 m wide and
15 m high) stream passage at the foot of "the waterfalls". After 50
m metres, possibility to climb up to the well decorated "Salle des Gours"
(6-m. climb). Another 50 m. further on, the river disappears in a
few narrow slots. One can continue in a fossil 2-level gallery, in
West-direction, until this ends. When taking the upper level to come back,
one easily finds the way to another part of the cave "Réseau du Babydoll",
going East. Here another river, coming from Trou Dury, enters the cave.
The farthest point of this gallery is only 50 m away from Trou Dury.
In the Babydoll, one can admire the most beautiful fossil coral reefs to
be seen in any Belgian cave!
RIGGING:
The entrance pitch, 7 m deep, is rigged with a fixed steel ladder.
You don't need any ropes to visit the rest of the cave. However, a
15 m rope could be of use since some climbs could be a bit difficult for
unexperienced cavers (e.g. climbing up to "Salle des Gours")
COMMENT:
In wet conditions, climbing up the waterfalls is an absolute must!
IMPORTANT: this cave is situated in the middle of the village and
besides a church and graveyard. Please do not park the cars in front
of the church. Be discrete: no strip-teasing and no loud noise please!
MORE INFORMATION:
click here
SURVEY: Click
here to see the survey
Download survey as TIF:
Plan Trou de
l'Eglise
Coupe Trou de
l'Eglise
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