7 million years ago, the sea retreated from the Jurassic region. The tectonic forces at that time caused shifts in the earth's surface and elevations.
One hundred and thirty years ago, the diver Pfund first dived through the grotto and after 11 meters discovered that it was even deeper. From 1974, the grotto was also open to non-adventurers. Vallorbe set up a committee to finance the work on the grotto and to drill an artificial entrance so that the cave could be entered on foot. On April 6, 1974, the cave was opened as a tourist attraction in Vallorbe. In recent years, in addition to the spectacular grotto, a mineral exhibition and a cheese store have been added.
The Fairy Grotto
According to legend, there was a young, strong and handsome man named Donat among the Vallorb ironworkers. But he was also a braggart and a gossip. The tall and beautiful fairies who supposedly lived in the grotto occasionally showed themselves to individual villagers. Donat wanted to visit the fairies and set off for the grotto. Tired from the climb, he lay down on a bed of ferns and fell asleep. When he woke up, he saw a fairy offering him her hand. She asked Donat if he wanted to stay with her. She obviously liked Donat very much, because she promised to make him happy for a century. He was to receive a pearl and a gold piece every day as long as he promised not to visit her in her chambers. Donat accepted the offer.
After a few days of happy togetherness, he wanted to enter her room out of curiosity to see what she was actually hiding from him. He found her sleeping and saw her ugly crow's feet through her slightly raised dress. At that moment the fairy woke up and drove Donat away, threatening him not to tell anyone the secret of her feet, otherwise she would punish him. When he returned to the village smithy, he told everyone the story. But no one in the village believed him. To prove his story, he showed the villagers the pearls and gold pieces, only to discover to his dismay that they were actually just autumn leaves and juniper berries. Humiliated, Donat left the village and was never seen again.
Access
Opening hours and access can be found on the grotto’s official website.
