Top 13 Caves 北フランスでの

Don't forget the flashlight

There is a trench right next to it

Great place to discover in the forest

Possibility to sit on the steps for a meal or a break. Lamp recommended

The Vauban Garden was created in the mid-19th century, in 1865. At that time, the city of Lille was expanding, and this was an opportunity for the city to create new green spaces, places for walking where the people of Lille could enjoy nature. In this garden, the bourgeoisie liked to show off, and the workers, from the industrial districts, enjoyed breathing the fresh air, far from the factories. First called the Empress Eugenie Park, the Vauban Garden took its current name in 1870. It became a listed site in 1991. By following the route opposite, take the garden's curving paths, cross its rolling lawns, and discover this romantic place inspired by English gardens. For the creation of this public garden, the City of Lille commissioned the Chief Gardener of Paris. He created and landscaped numerous gardens for the capital, such as the Luxembourg Gardens and the Buttes-Chaumont Park. This highly renowned landscape gardener has worked for other cities in France: Roubaix (Barbieux Park), Marseille, Cambrai, and abroad: Italy, Austria, and Egypt. At the bottom of the garden lies a cave from which a waterfall flows, feeding the ponds. Like the river, this cave is not natural: it was built of reinforced concrete and stone rubble. Over time, the accumulation of limestone dissolved in the water and trapped by plants (mosses) has revealed new rock, forming large blocks on the sides of the cave.

Deep beneath the Chemin des Dames plateau lies the Caverne du Dragon, a former limestone quarry that was transformed into a strategic underground fortress during the First World War. From 1915, German troops took over the cave and built dormitories, a chapel, an aid station and even an electricity network. Later, the cave was partially retaken by the French, and both armies temporarily lived side by side, separated by walls in the darkness. The name “Caverne du Dragon” (Drachenhöhle) refers to the mythical dragon from Germanic legends, inspired by the smoke that rose from the loopholes as if from the mouth of a monster. Today, the cave is a museum and memorial site, where visitors can explore the underground passages and experience the traces of soldiers’ lives in the depths.

Superb walk on a mountain in the heart of a forest that feels rich in history. Varied with forest, countryside and village. I recommend without hesitation.

The Dragon's Cave is a place for goosebumps. It's unbelievable how you dig in during war. An absolute highlight on the Chemin des Dames!