Grotte du Grand Sarcoui | Carrière de domite & histoire mérovingienne

The Sarcoui cave is located on the flank of the Grand Sarcoui volcano. It’s also called “le chaudron” (the cauldron) because of its resemblance to an inverted cauldron : its dome shape with flattened top gave it this popular nickname. The lava at the origin of Grand Sarcoui is very clear,(…)

The Sarcoui cave is located on the flank of the Grand Sarcoui volcano. It’s also called “le chaudron” (the cauldron) because of its resemblance to an inverted cauldron : its dome shape with flattened top gave it this popular nickname. The lava at the origin of Grand Sarcoui is very clear, almost white. It is called “la domite”.

The Merovingians quarried the flanks of the Sarcoui, extracting blocks of lava to make sarcophagi. This activity is said to have given the volcano its name : Sarcoui (derived from coffin ?). Similar quarries can be found in several domes. These historic quarries bear witness to the scale of exploitation in ancient times (Gallo-Roman and early Middle Ages).