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🏛️ DepartmentLot (46)
📍 TownMontvalent
📌 Cave GPS44° 52′ 45.768″ N · 1° 36′ 54.432″ E ↗
🅿️ GPS Parking44° 52′ 48.238″ N · 1° 36′ 55.310″ E ↗
↕ S1 depth±33 m
↔ S1 length±285–310 m
🗺️ TopoView surveys ↓
Character of La Finou
Source de La Finou lies near Montvalent and belongs to the extensive underground Padirac water system. The cave is not one continuous submerged passage: the first sump is followed by dry galleries and then several more sumps. The supplied historical information describes a system with 22 sifons.
The first sump descends over unstable gravel and levels off at around -30 tot -33 m. A restriction lies farther on, after which the passage rises towards a dry section. Depending on the survey, S1 measures approximately 285 tot 310 m in length. Next, approximately 700 m through dry cave passages must be traversed before reaching S2.
Farther into the system are longer sumps, including S3 and S5, interspersed with dry passages. The La Finou–Padirac connection demonstrates that this is an extensive and complex cave system, not a simple continuous cave dive.
Important: access and parking are sensitive issues. Surrounding land is privately owned, and prohibition signs have been posted in the past. Limit the number of cars, respect local agreements and always verify current access arrangements before visiting.
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© Ron Freijer · All photographs and videos on this page
🤿 The first sumps
The supplied description and surveys give the following figures for the first part of La Finou: S1 ±285–310 m / -33 m, followed by approximately 700 m of dry cave; then a short S2, S3 ±240 m / -6 m, S4 ±35 m / -3 m, S5 ±575–585 m / -14 m, followed by several further sumps and dry passages.
The historical surveys were produced at different times, so some lengths and numbering differ slightly. This page intentionally preserves those original differences.
🗺️ Survey Source de La Finou
The four supplied surveys show both the profile of La Finou and its relationship with Saint-Georges and the Padirac system. Click a survey to enlarge it.
Survey credits:
• Overzicht Rivière de Padirac en résurgences: B. Gauche; schema Saint-Georges/Padirac gedateerd 20/08/2014, C. Chaput.
• Profiel “La Finou – Montvalent – Lot”: Le Guen, 1989.
• “Source de La Finou – Schematic Diagram”: getekend door R. Stanton.
• “Report des Topographies de Padirac et de La Finou”: Bernard Gauche, gebaseerd op werkzaamheden van J.P. Stefanato, E. Beaucheron en B. Gauche.
The images are reproduced as supplied; their content and author credits have not been altered.
• Overzicht Rivière de Padirac en résurgences: B. Gauche; schema Saint-Georges/Padirac gedateerd 20/08/2014, C. Chaput.
• Profiel “La Finou – Montvalent – Lot”: Le Guen, 1989.
• “Source de La Finou – Schematic Diagram”: getekend door R. Stanton.
• “Report des Topographies de Padirac et de La Finou”: Bernard Gauche, gebaseerd op werkzaamheden van J.P. Stefanato, E. Beaucheron en B. Gauche.
The images are reproduced as supplied; their content and author credits have not been altered.
🗺️ Location
Montvalent, Lot, France
📍 Open in Google Maps →ℹ️ Practical information
ParkingMaximum ±2 cars. Very limited and sensitive parking.
Walking distance±250–300 m from the parking area to the cave.
AccessVia a narrow, difficult path towards the small stream valley and the resurgence.
Dive teamsDo not visit the cave with more than one group at a time.
EquipmentFull cave-diving equipment; account for restrictions, silt and dry passages.
Special considerationsS1 reaches approximately −33 m; restrictions and silt; a long dry passage follows S1. Conditions can change considerably at high water levels.
PermissionPrivate land and sensitive access; check current local agreements in advance.
DPVDiscouraged – due to restrictions, silt and the nature of the cave, a DPV offers little advantage and may become an obstruction.
📚 Sources & credits
- Practical information — compiled from location details, parking information and experience supplied by Ron Freijer.
- Historical description — based on the supplied document Source of Finou.
- Survey — based on supplied historical surveys; differences in lengths and numbering have deliberately not been silently reconciled.
Practical information on parking, walking distance and GPS coordinates is based on field observations and supplied data. Cave conditions, access and local arrangements may change; always check before diving.