A century later, in 1881, that cross can still be seen in one of the brochures of Bugois poet Gabriel Lafon:
"I had finally reached the site of the cave; a slight subsidence alone marked the location. Above it, some stunted oak trees had grown. A wooden cross, mutilated by time and eaten away at by moss, swayed what was left of its limbs in the blowing wind. Was this unsteady symbol of faith the devout tribute given to the manes of some poor wretch, or the commemoration of a past danger?".

"For the 130 years that the cave had been covered up, it was hardly talked about in the region, except in the fantastic tales told during the festive evening gatherings over the years, when in early 1907, the vaults suddenly collapsed. While it was loud in the cave, it was perhaps even more so in the region, and all the local newspapers echoed the news. A slight collapse having occurred in a wood of chestnut trees belonging to Pierre Francès, this land-owner had the idea of having the excavation explored by Mr Gabriel Galou, a well-known well-digger by trade, owner-operator of the Resturant du Paradis located in the cliffs of Roc de Tayac, but above all an adventurer and daredevil! He was therefore the first to venture alone into the newly rediscovered cave, on Sunday 10 March 1907. Having set up his well-digging equipment, he descended into the cave with ropes, right down to the uneven floor that forms the top of the debris cone.

What exactly occurred during that first exploration?

Despite the minimal lighting, Mr Galou found it to be of real interest "finding a significant number of crystal columns measuring between 0.8 -1 metre in diameter and 5 to 6 metres high; on a bed of crystal there are two perfectly clear pools of water, one of which is 1.2 metres deep"

Upon emerging, when questioned by the curious onlookers crowded around the edge of the cave, he merely replied: "It goes beyond even the most fertile imagination; I cannot describe it to you"; but recommended another descent to complete his investigations.

That second descent took place on Friday 5 April and confirmed the great interest of the cave: "we may have here an extremely curious cave, rivalling the Gouffre de Padirac".