The Devil’s Hole is a natural crater in the solid cliff measuring about 100ft across and 200ft deep. The hole is a natural formation probably caused by the sea eroding a cave until the roof of the cave collapsed to form the crater we now see.
The Devils Hole wishing well
In 1851 a ship’s figurehead washed up inside the Devil’s Hole and if that was not strange enough someone decided to create a statue of a devil out of the figurehead and this was then set up above the Hole. The wooden ships figurehead could not last forever exposed to the elements and was replaced by a succession of modern versions in the 20th century.
Old Postcard of Le Reuses
The name ‘Devil’s Hole’ is only a nineteenth century invention after the statue of the devil was erected. Before that it was called ‘Le Creux de Vis’, ‘Le Creux de la Touraille’ or Spiral Cave.
The Devil from Devils Hole
Today the devil’s metal replica as shown in the picture above stands in a pond on the way down to the crater. There is a winding, slightly spooky and in one place quite steep path down to the Devil’s Hole itself. You can look into the otherwise quite dangerous hole from two safe vantage points.
Old Postcard of Devils Hole
Access to the Devil’s Hole is through the grounds of the “Priory Inn”. To get to “The Priory” use La Grande Rue or Le Chemin des Hougues or you could walk to The Devils Hole along the cliff path.