Chauvet Cave

In 1994, near the natural arch of the Pont d'Arc in the Gorges de l'Ardèche, three amateur cavers ventured into a cave not yet listed in which they recognised prehistoric drawings on the walls. They immediately came out, concealed the entrance and contacted the relevant authorities. They are the "discoverers" of the Grotte Chauvet, named after one of the discoverers, Jean-Marie Chauvet with his companions Éliette Brunel and Christian Hillaire. It is an exceptional discovery, a unique jewel of art that comes to us from Prehistory, from the Upper Palaeolithic, at least 36,000 years ago.

These are among the earliest surviving forms of art. When we contemplate these paintings, these distant people suddenly seem close to us, as if they had just left this place. They planned their movements, used the shape, consistency and contours of the rock surface, they composed their images using perspective, and finally they drew a firm line on the animals' silhouettes. The cave closed again 21,000 years ago, a landslide sealed its entrance and its preserved contents have survived to this day.

The original Chauvet Grotto is closed to the public to preserve this unique and fragile place, only scientists can access it. A copy of the cave was built a few kilometres further on the Razal plateau, overlooking the town of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, and is called "Grotte Chauvet 2 Ardèche". Using 3D digitization techniques, concrete and resin, artists using the same varied techniques - red hematite powder, flint engraving, charcoal drawings - have reproduced our ancestors’ engravings and paintings as faithfully as possible. The result is amazing. This treasure of humanity is accessible to all under optimal conditions.

The site was inaugurated in April 2015 under the name "La Caverne du Pont d’Arc", such a success that in less than two years, one million people had visited it. The Aurignacian Gallery offers life-size reconstructions of the fauna - cave bears, panthers, cave lions, giant deer over 2 metres at the shoulder, mammoths - and the men who occupied the area, and explanations on the life of our ancestors. Many activities are also available.

Accommodation near Chauvet Cave

selection of b&b near the Gorges de l'Ardèche on the portal of the Guest houses in Provence

Grotte Chauvet 2 Ardèche website : www.grottechauvet2ardeche.com

On site :

• Restaurant
• Aurignacian Gallery
• Activities
• Shopping

Getting to Chauvet Cave

GPS coordinates N 44°24'22.3'' - E 4°25'53.6''

Situation : 6 km from Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 17 km from Barjac, 28 km from Aiguèze, 33 km from Viviers, 60 km from Orange, 83 km from Avignon