Measurements of density, porosity, capillary moisture content and water absorption coefficients of Savonni¿res, a French layered limestone, show a wide variability on the local scale. The differences in imbibition properties can be explained by the microstructural variability as shown by optical microscopy. Microscopic investigations of free uptake experiments using a colored low-viscous epoxy resin confirm the strong relations between imbibition and microstructure. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union