About us

 

The Verna cave is located in three municipalities in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department: Sainte-Engrâce in the Basque Country, Arette and Aramits in Béarn.

These three municipalities have invested in developing this exceptional site to make it accessible to the general public, through an inter-municipal association: SIVU La Verna.

The access tunnel, originally dug by EDF and then abandoned, was rehabilitated by SHEM (Société Hydro-Electrique du Midi, a subsidiary of Engie) to develop hydroelectric power in the cave.

SIVU La Verna obtained financial support from the following institutions to complete the initial investment:

  • European Union 
  • French Republic 
  • Aquitaine Regional Council (now Nouvelle Aquitaine)
  • Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departmental Council

SIVU La Verna implemented its development project in partnership with SHEM, as well as two caving associations: ARSIP (Association pour la Recherche Spéléologique Internationale à la Pierre Saint-Martin) and CDSC 64 (Comité Départemental de Spéléologie et de Canyonisme, the local representative of the French Caving Federation).

SIVU La Verna delegated the tourist operation to SAS La Verna Pierre Saint-Martin through a Public Service Delegation contract. SAS La Verna PSM has managed the tourist operation since it opened to the public in 2010, with its contract being renewed in 2014 and 2020.

SAS La Verna PSM was created by CDSC 64 in 2010, which opened up its capital to a second shareholder in 2015: SAS La Verna Participations, a crowdfunding company bringing together 130 individuals and associations (mostly cavers). At the end of 2022, SAS La Verna Pierre Saint-Martin bought back the shares of SAS La Verna Participations. To date, CDSC 64 is the sole shareholder of SAS La Verna Pierre Saint-Martin.

Équipe La Verna début 2023
La Verna team in early 2023

 

Open all year round, SAS La Verna PSM employs three permanent staff, service providers and seasonal workers during the high season, representing a total of six full-time equivalents.

It is the enthusiasm and teamwork of all these people that has enabled 200,000 visitors to discover La Verna since July 2010.