Grotte Chincholle - Aven du Roc Paradet n°1

This cave can be considered in two parts. The first, with a general south-north orientation, consists of a large sloping chamber (entrance porch) about 50 metres long and 10 to 15 metres wide; the height is very variable but does not exceed 10 metres. Several small openings (east wall) give access to a series of collapsed, sloping chambers of smaller dimensions (maximum length 10 metres for a height varying between 2 and 6 metres). These chambers are interspersed with small steps that can generally be bypassed. On either side of this general south-north axis, other chambers develop and sometimes communicate with each other through funnels where it is very difficult to squeeze in (a succession of narrow passages between blocks that are rarely accommodating). One thus reaches the top of a P 4 that breaks through the ceiling of a new chamber (on the -65 side); it is directly below this shaft that a cleared funnel allows access to the second part of the network.

After a 3-metre climb, one arrives in a small chamber (step) that is in fact the top of a shaft; three openings in a floor of blocks welded by calcite warn us of this. To the south, a 5-metre step follows a joint window, then an 11-metre shaft finally gives directly below the previously mentioned openings. There, a new funnel forms the floor. At its bottom, an east-west meander, blocked by collapse debris, marks the current lowest point of the cave (-142 m for 600 metres of development).

After two narrow passages, a third finally gives passage into a very fine 26-metre shaft. At the base, one can climb the Thomas chimney for 20 metres (located on the east wall, stops at an obstruction); but the continuation is to be sought in the south wall. The clearing of a new funnel forming the floor has allowed descent of a P20 (joint start).

The shaft network is called the « réseau de Pâques » because of the date of its discovery; it keeps the general south-north direction of the cave.