Media
The Berger chasm has been the subject of numerous publications and documentary films as explorations have progressed.
We present the main ones, as well as the latest publications and topography available.
Details are available on the CDS 38 website.
Videos and recordings
Film Lapiaz
Lapiaz DU GOUFFRE BERGER short films by Georges Marry shot in 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956. Behind the scenes of research and exploration.
Siphon minus 1122: Georges Marry and Jo Berger’s film is an unsurpassed exploration classic, for the density of its writing and the emotion it conveys because it was shot live. It bears witness to the 1956 international expedition and the first -1000 underground.
Caving in Gouffre Berger – “Immersion” – In the footsteps of Fernand Petzl
50 years on, the Petzl team is back in the footsteps of the first explorers (Jo Berger, Fernand Petzl, Jean Lavigne, Georges Garby, Pierre Chevalier…). Thanks to extraordinary images from the film “Siphon -1122” (directed by Georges Marry in 1962 and produced by Jack Lesage), relive the intensity of the first descents into this now inescapable chasm.
Gouffre Berger: 5 episodes produced by FR3
Mythe du Berger, a series of 5 reports on the Gouffre Berger by Patrice Morel, Yves Marie Glo, P.Caillat broadcast on FR3 in 2006.
Documentary: “We walked under the earth
Trailer for the film directed by Alex Lopez. Explorers Cédric Lachat and David Parrot attempt to “connect” the Fromagère chasm with the mythical Berger chasm.
Gouffre Berger summer camp
Gouffre Berger summer camp Video by Grégoire Limagne, taken during a summer camp organized every year. It gives a good overview of what awaits you, from the surface to the terminal siphon and the organization.
Be prepared.
The main books on the Berger chasm
Book Opération -1000
Gouffre Berger, 1er -1000 released in 1955 by Jean Cadoux, Jean Lavigne, Géo Mathieu, Louis Potié, Histoire de l’équipe des speéléos Grenoblois, des cuves de Sassenage au premier record mondial de profondeur (-903) atteint au Gouffre Berger en 1954. Premonitory work of the first -1000 underground.
Book Opération -1000 in english
Gouffre Berger,1er -1000 English version 1957. Also exists in a Polish version.
This book is translated from the French version, with some textual adaptations.
Book Gouffre Berger first -1000
Le Gouffre Berger, 1er -1000, twenty year of exploration, 1977 by Georges Marry. Book mainly of photos, with a few additions on subsequent explorations up to the year of publication.
Book Les Cuves de Sassenage
Les Cuves de Sassenage et les promenades alentour by Baudoin Lismonde 2013 Published by the Comité départemental de spéléologie de l’isère.
Book Gouffre Berger “Team spirit”
Gouffre Berger – Team spirit. By Marc Write, Robbie Shone & others. 2014 (in FR and EN). This book illustrates, along the original route of the first explorers, the descent to the terminal siphon at -1122 m with superb photographs of numerous shafts and gallerie
Book History of a team
Gouffre Berger – History of a team 1941-1956 by the founders of the SGCAF. 2016 You can read a lot of details about past explorations, from the point of view of the participants, their motivation, the joys of exploration, their worries of the moment, and the nostalgia we feel for a shared collective adventure.
Book Envers et contre tout
Against all odds – Gouffre berger 68. By members of the Belgian and French expeditions. 2020 This book is based on the first-hand accounts and memories of members of the 1968 Belgian and French expeditions, which remain exceptional in many respects.
At first, the expedition went off without a hitch, but the weather got in the way and successive twists and turns led to increasingly difficult, and soon dramatic, situations.
Press articles and archive documents
1st Topo Sassenage Vats 1949
Testimony 1950-51 Sornin campaign: Jean Lavigne
Various newspaper articles 1950-52: Dauphiné libéré
Various newspaper articles 1953 : Dauphiné libéré
Article Life magazine 1954
Article Paris Match 54
Various newspaper articles 1954 : Dauphiné libéré, Le Monde, le Parisien, Le Figaro, L’Aurore, l’Humanité …
Article Paris Match 55
Various newspaper articles 1955 : Dauphiné libéré, Le Monde, le Parisien, Le Figaro, L’Aurore, l’Humanité
Testimonial 1955 exploration campaign: Dr Paul Brunel
Various newspaper articles 1956 : Dauphiné libéré, Le Monde, le Parisien, Figaro, le Progrés, France soir
Article Paris Match 56
Testimonial 1956 international exploration campaign: Georges Marry
International newspaper articles 1956: Belgium, Italy, UK, Lebanon
Various newspaper articles from 1957 to 1998 : Dauphiné Libéré, France soir
La Fromagère network documents
Latest Topo update 2022 of the Berger network
Photos and média : Collection Jean Lavigne, Daniel Lavigne
