Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Eye of God at Newchurch in Pendle
St. Govor’s Well.
St. Govor’s Well
Shivsrushti
Pierced domes of Hammam Seffarine.
Hammam Seffarine
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Grasshopper Chapel and grounds.
How the Rocky Mountain Locust Plague Spawned Federal Disaster Relief
2 days ago
The Guy Bradley Visitor Center at Flamingo in Everglades National Park.
America’s First Game Warden Died Fighting for the Birds
2 days ago
Echo Park Time Travel Mart.
Atlas Obscura Presents: Traveling Back in Time for Coconut Cake With The Sporkful
3 days ago
One of the PATH’s many entrances.
A Supposedly Boring Mall I Might Actually Visit Again
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Belgium Remouchamps Caves of Remouchamps

Caves of Remouchamps

Hiding the longest subterranean river known in the world.

Remouchamps, Belgium

Added By
Michelle Enemark
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  gingercinnamon / Atlas Obscura User
  gingercinnamon / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Located in Belgium, the Caves of Remouchamps has among its many wonders the longest subterranean river known in the world. Opened in 1912 and originally equipped with torches, the caves are explored in two parts. The first is a long walk to a grand "cathedral", followed by an hour and a half boat ride down the caves' quiet and entirely underground river, the Rubicon. Floating down the underground river gives the impression of an entering a lost underground fairy kingdom.

The history of the Caves of Remouchamps is also quite unique. Some 8,000 years ago, Paleolithic hunters sheltered themselves in the cave, and much later, the same area was used as a wine shelter, and a shelter during World War II.

Throughout the cave there are a handful of remarkable sites for visitors to see. Bat sightings are a treat for guests and while drifting on the Rubicon, look closely for the niphargus, a blind, translucent shrimp. Many stalactites and stalagmites decorate the interior of the passageways, one famously noted for its resemblance to the Virgin Mary.

Related Tags

Caves Geological Oddities Ecosystems Geology

Community Contributors

Added By

michelle

Edited By

erget, gingercinnamon

  • erget
  • gingercinnamon

Published

January 22, 2009

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubicon_%28Belgium%29
Caves of Remouchamps
Rue de Louveigné 3
Remouchamps, 4920
Belgium
50.480135, 5.712247
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Verviers Station's Comical Hare and Tortoise Bas-relief

Verviers, Belgium

miles away

La Balade des Gnomes

Heyd, Belgium

miles away

Cointe Observatory

Liège, Belgium

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Belgium

Belgium

Europe

Places 204
Stories 12

Nearby Places

Verviers Station's Comical Hare and Tortoise Bas-relief

Verviers, Belgium

miles away

La Balade des Gnomes

Heyd, Belgium

miles away

Cointe Observatory

Liège, Belgium

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Belgium

Belgium

Europe

Places 204
Stories 12

Related Places

  • Pertosa Caves.

    Muraglione, Italy

    Pertosa Caves

    Ride a boat through this magnificent underground world, which now doubles as a theater.

  • Seaward entrance.

    Peñíscola, Spain

    Bufador de Peñiscola

    The blowhole bursts spectacularly right next to the buildings in a medieval seaside town.

  • Cueva Clara.

    Quebrada, Puerto Rico

    Cueva Clara

    An enchanting natural wonder in Puerto Rico's Camuy River Park.

  • Entrance to Colossal Cave.

    Vail, Arizona

    Colossal Cave

    Legend says train robbers stashed their gold within the depths of this unusual cave.

  • Bunnet Stane.

    Gateside, Scotland

    Bunnet Stane

    This unusual rock looks like a giant, otherworldly mushroom sprouting atop a cave.

  • Caves

    Tamajón, Spain

    Enchanted City of Tamajón

    Whimsical sculptures and caves chiseled by nature over the millennia.

  • The 100,000 Soldiers.

    Mialet, France

    100,000 Soldiers of Trabuc Caves

    This army of concretions is an unexplained geological phenomenon unlike anything else in the world.

  • Wogan Cavern showing the entrance stairs and massive Norman-built wall.

    Pembroke, Wales

    Wogan Cavern

    A spiral staircase connects the limestone cave with Pembroke Castle, birthplace of King Henry VII.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.