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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 Cim?i?e) 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, a meander starts. After only 15 m, you can a)
go on straight forward or b) descend a pit at your left .
In case of a) : this is Passage des Bruxellois. You will meet an easy
squeeze followed by a climb down of about 3 m that leads to a big
gallery (Grande Galerie). Follow the gallery downwards and you will
arrive near Salle Tony and Galerie des Surprises. Continue straight on
and you'll arrive at a big crossing where the river arrives from the
right (= Waterfalls)
In case of b): you arrive near the foot of "Pas de la Mort". Two
possibilities: go left (upstream) and find a passage at your right
(Passage Yves Grolaux) that will lead to the Grande Galerie (so this way
bypasses the Galerie des Bruxellois); or go right (downstream) and you
will arrive near the top of the waterfalls. They can be climbed down
without rope.
At the foot of the waterfalls, there is only one way on: the impressive (2 m wide and
15 m high) stream passage. 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 it 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 (Disphyllum) to
be seen in any Belgian cave!
RIGGING:
The entrance pitch, 7 m deep, is rigged with a fixed steel ladder.
But for inexperienced cavers, it might be a good idea to use a 15 m
rope, since at the foot of the ladder, there is still +/- 5 m to climb
down.
You don't need any ropes to visit the rest of the cave. However,
in this cave you can have real fun with ropes too!.
- climb up to Salle Tony (by taking a difficult squeeze and the the
"hollow" stalagmit" and descend off the balcony at the other side: 15 m
rope.
- traverse in the roof of Galerie des Surprises and descends near the
Orgues: 35 m rope
- climb up to "Salle des Gours" and descends to other side: 15 m
rope
- traverse high in the canyon, from Salle de la Cathedrale to Salle
des Gours: 20 m rope.
Everything is rigged with fixed P-hangers ("broches")
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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