How to Visit the Chauvet Cave Paintings in Ardèche, France

The Chauvet Cave replica is located just outside of the town of Vallon Pont d'Arc, in southern Ardèche in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. SkiptoprimarynavigationSkiptomaincontentSkiptoprimarysidebarSkiptofooterSharePinTweetShareShare7Shares Whiletherehavebeenseveralprehistoriccavediscoveriesacrosstheworld,there’sonlyoneplacewhereyoucanwitnessthebest-preservedandoldest-knownpaintings–TheGrotteChauvet(ChauvetCave)insoutheasternFrance. VisitingtheUNESCO-listed,oldest-knownprehistoriccavepaintingsinFrancewasn’texactlyonmyradar.Butthankstomypartner’sfamilybeingfromtheArdècheregionofFrance,wegottovisitandallIhavetosayisthis:Incredible! IfyouaretravelingthroughthesouthofFrance,alongtheFrenchRiviera,orexploringAixandthelavenderfieldsofProvence,thenmakesuretotakeashortdaytriptoseetheGrotteChauvet2andswiminthegorgesoftheArdècheRiverunderthefamousPontd’Arcarch.Youwon’tregretit! GuidetoVisitingtheGrotteChauvetinFrance Disclaimer:Thispostcontainsaffiliatelinksthatmayearnmeasmallcommissionshouldyoudecidetoclickthroughandmakeavalidpurchase(atnoextracosttoyou).Thankssomuchforyoursupport! ©PatrickAventurier HistoryoftheGrotteChauvetDiscovery TheGrottedeChauvetwasdiscoveredinDecember1994bythreespelunkers(cavers).Jean-MarieChauvet,ÉllietteBrunel,andChristianHillairewerehikingontheCirqued’Estrewhenabreezefromanearbyholepiquedtheirinterest.Theydugawayattherockandslippedinside(afterreturningtogettheirgear),anddiscoveredwhatwouldsoonbecomeknownasoneofthemostimpressiveandsignificantdiscoveriesofprehistoricmankind. Uponenteringintothehigh-roofedcavern,theyexploredwiththeirflashlights,takingcaretopreservethegroundonwhichtheysteppedwithplasticcoverings.Animalbones,suchascavebearsandcavelions,werefoundaswellasremarkablehand-paintedanimalfiguresonthecavewalls. Duringtheextensiveexpeditionfollowingtheinitialdiscovery,theyevendiscoveredaperfectlypreservedhumanfootprint. Thecavemanagedtokeepeverythingpreservedforover21,000years–theestimateddatewhenthecave’smainentrancewascompletelyclosedoffduetoamassive,andfinal,rockcollapse. CourtesyofGrotteChauvet2Ardèche Theoldest-datedpainting,however,datesbackfurtherthanthat!Scientistswereabletodatetheartworkallthewayback36,000yearsago–thankstodirectcarbondatingfromoneofthepaintings. InanefforttonotrepeatthemistakeoftheLascauxCave,theoldest-knownprehistoriccavepaintingspriortotheChauvetdiscovery(19,000years),expertJeanClotte,wholedtheexpedition,decidedGrotteChauvetshouldbeprotectedatallcosts.Assuch,itwasdecidedthattheoriginalcavewouldneveropentothepublicforthebenefitoffuturegenerationsinourcollectiveunderstandingofoursharedancestorsandhumanity. Eagertosharethisincredibleartworkwiththeworld,however,theymovedforwardwithavigorousplantocopyandconstructanear-exactreplicaoftheChauvetCaveandnameditChauvetCave2.Today,theChauvetCavereplicais“theworld’sbiggestreplicaofanotherwiseinaccessiblecaveartsite”withafloorareaofover8500m²(91,500ft²). HowtoGettotheGrotteChauvet TheChauvetCavereplicaislocatedjustoutsideofthetownofVallonPontd’Arc,insouthernArdècheintheRhône-AlpesregionofFrance.Togetthere,you’lllikelyneedtocombineplane+train+car. Ifyou’realreadyinFrance,theeasiestwaytogettotheChauvetCaveisbytrainandcar.Ifyou’reflyingintoFrance,you’llgetthebestpricesifyoulandattheinternationalairportofLyon-Saint-ExupéryoutsidethecityofLyon.Fromthere,it’sa2hr20mdrive. TherearealsotheairportsofAvignon-Provence(1hr16m),Montpellier(2hrs),andMarseille(2hrs),incaseyouwanttopricecheckroutestothoseaswell.RentingacaratoneoftheairportswouldalsobeanoptionifyouarecomfortableandfamiliarwithdrivinginEurope(note:mostvehiclesarestickshifts). CheckbusoptionstoVallonPontd’ArconBusbudRentacarinLyonoratanotherairport Fromanyairportormid-sizetown/city(suchasLyon,Montpellier,Valence,Aix-en-Provence,Saint-Étienne,etc),youcantakeaTGV(high-speedtrain)togettoVallonPontd’Arc. 📍Address:4941RoutedeBourgStAndéol,07150Vallon-Pont-d’Arc,France⏰Hours:8:30am–9pm,Mon-Sun📱Phone:+330475943940 WheretoStayNearbyLaGrotteChauvet-Pontd’Arc LeManoirduRaveyronviaBooking.com TheclosesttowntotheGrotteChauvet2istheendearingtownofVallonPontd’Arc.Fromhere,thecaveisbuta4-minutedriveaway(3.3mi,5.3km)andthefamousPontd’Arcarch.Nearbypopularplacestostayare: LeManoirduRaveyron–charmingandcozystone-decoratedhotelwithanoutdoorgarden,andfreebreakfast. PrehistoricLodge–individualecolodgeslocatedattheentranceoftheArdècheGorgessurroundedbynature.HotelBerneron–acleanandpet-friendlyupscalehotellocatedinthelivelytowncenter,completewithbreakfast,pool,andterrace.LeSilex– astylishandchichotelsetinsideacavewithstonebathtubs,candlelighting,andmodernfurnishings.  Note:Summermonthsbookoutweeks-monthsinadvance,soreserveahead! GrotteChauvetTours ©FranckCharton YoucannottourtheoriginalChauvetCave.Luckily,theChauvetCave2isanear-perfectreplica(apartfromtheshape),whichyouaremorethanwelcometotour. Thedaytoursareaguided1-hourvisitinsidethecave.Ifyou’dprefertovisitindependently,youcandoaself-guidedtourintheevening. HowguidedChauvetCavetourswork: Bookyourtourtimeonlinehere(costs€17foradults,€8.50foryouthaged10-17).Showup30minutesbeforetocheck-inatthereception/ticketcounter.Onceinside,waitatthetourentrance10minutesbeforeyourtime.Yourguidewillspeakintoamicrophone,whichyouwillhearfromyourheadset(providedforyou).Thewalkingtourwilltakeyouthroughthedim-litcave,whileyourguidewillexplainthepaintingsandarchaeologicaldiscoveriesonthecavefloor.Afterexiting,youwillhandbackyourheadsetandarefreetotourtherestoftheChauvet-Pontd’Arcpark. ⚠️ AllvisitorsmustpresenteitheravaccinationQRcode(forEuropeans/Frenchnationals)ortheequivalent(ourvaccinationcardfromWal-Martwasaccepted)and/oranegativetestinordertoenterthepark. Note:Photography/videographyisnotallowedinsidethecaveduringthetour.Luckily,alltheoriginalphotosoftherealChauvetCavearemadeavailableonlinehereandarecopyright-free.  Ifyouwouldliketohaveapreviewoftheinsideofthecave,docheckoutthebelowsimulationin360°.Itisawonderfullymadevideothatreallygivesyouasenseoftheatmosphere. Beyondthecavemuseum,thereismuchmoretoseeatGrotteChauvet2. ThingstoDoatGrotteChauvet2 TheAurignacianGallery–Thisisperhapsthemostfascinatingpartoftheparkbeyondthecave.Here,yougettowatchashortfilmabouttheAurignacianpeopleandthenproceedintoalargeroomwithtrue-to-scaleanimalsthatlivedduringtheIceAge.Youcouldspendhoursherereadingallofthepromptsavailable.Therearealsogamesandinteractivespacesforfamilieswithchildren. PaleolithicCamp –Don’tmissoutonlivereenactments,explanations,andfunstorytellingatthePaleolithicCamparea.Here,youcanwatchhowtheAurignaciansmighthaveusedtoolsformakingfires,weapons,musicalinstruments,andliveddailylife. Alife-sizemodeloftheextinctMegaloceros(giantelk)insidetheAurignacianGallery PaleolithicCampsite RestaurantLaTerrasse –Theon-siterestaurantinsidetheGrotteChauvet-Pontd’Arcparksources75%ofitsingredientsanddishesfromthesurroundingregionofArdèche.Locallysourcedandhealthy,therestaurantisagreatplacetoeatanddiscoverthetastesofsouthernArdèche.Despitebeingservedincafeteria-styleform,thefoodisquitenicelyplatedanddelicious. Viewpoint/DiscoveryPoints –Before/afteryourcavetour,makesuretocircletheupper-levelterraceforaniceviewpointonthehillsandvalleysofArdèchethatmarktheskyline.Also,asyouwalkfrompointtopointinthepark,taketimetoreadabouttheexpeditionandconstructionprocessofthecave,whichcanbefoundatfivedifferentshadedrestareas(they’reindicatedonthemapyoureceiveuponentry). PanoramaoftheArdèchemountainsfromtheChauvetBelvédèreviewpoint LunchatLaTerrasserestaurantinsideGrotteChauvet2park Animals&PaintingsFoundintheGrotteChauvet NotonlyaretheChauvetCavepaintingstheoldest-knownexampleintheworld,butthey’vealsobecometheearliestsignsofman’sexpressionofart. Ialwayshatedliterary-historicalinterpretationinschool.“Thisauthorclearlywantedtohighlighttheimmortalityoflifethroughthiswiltedleaf.”But,manalwaystriestofindmeaning.And,asyougoonthistour,theguideswillsaythisshadingtechnique–orthatflickofthewrist–waspurposefullydonewithskillandexpertise.Inotherwords,executedwithmeaning. Andyes,whiletheAurignacianartistsmust’vehadapurposeforgoingintothiscave,despitethedangerslurkingintheshadows,topaint,itcanbehardtoreallyexplainthe“why.”Noonereallyknowswhythey(oranindividual)decidedtorepresenttheseanimals–andsomehumanbodyparts–thewaytheydid. Butwhatwedoknowisthatitisindeedsomeone’sart–whethertocreateastorytotellovertime,ortosimplyrepresentthemajesticscenesofwildliferoamingoutsidethecave. Belowaresomeexamplesofpaintingsyou’llseeinsidetheChauvetCave. ChauvetCaveHandPrints ©PatrickAventurier Thefirst,andarguablythemostpuzzling,paintingisacollectionofredochrehand-palmdotsthatdrawtheshapeofabison.Nofingerswerepaintedandused–andthisdetail,too,islefttodebateandspeculation. CaveLion/EndChamberPanel ©PatrickAventurier ThemostintricateandmostimpressivepaintinginsidetherealChauvetCaveliesattheverybackofthecave(which,inreality,isshapedlikeaYandnotlikeacircleasinChauvetCave2). ThecavelionpanelinsidetheEndChamberisthemostelaboratemuralsofallthe450+documentedpaintings.Itincludes15differentspeciesandatotalof92animals,mostofwhicharelions,inaspectacularworkofart. Thefiguresseemtobeinmotion,whichaddsawholeotherdimension,scale,andmeaningtothemasterpiece. HorsesPanel ©PatrickAventurier TheHorsesPanel,locatedinthenorthernendoftheHillaireChamberisdescribedasoneofthemostbeautifulprehistoricartworksofalltime.Thefourhorseseachhavedifferentexpressionsandallareshadedwithcharcoalinexceptionaldetailusingthestump-drawingtechnique. Mammoths,Rhinoceroses,Bison ©PatrickAventurier ©PatrickAventurier Whilelesselaborate,theotherpanelsandpaintingsinsidetheChauvetCavearenolessmesmerizing.Animalsrepresentedonwallsandrockformationsarewoolymammoths,leopards,cavelions,cavebears,reindeer,woolyrhinoceroses,bison,andmore. Cavebearhollows(bedding)and190+cavebearboneswerealsofoundinsidetherealGrotteChauvet. HumanFootprint Thereisasinglehumanfootprint,perfectlypreserved,inthesoftsoilinsidetheChauvetCave.Aboveitareblackburnmarksontherockwall,likelyfromthehand-heldtorch.Ashesandembers,frommanmadefireplaces,werealsofound. Thankstocarbondatingfromthecharcoalnearthefootprint,scientistswereabletodatethefootprint,whichapparentlybelongstoayoungteenboy,back26,000yearsago. ThingstoDoNearbytheChauvetCave ThefamousPontd’ArcnearbytherealGrotteChauvet Sinceyou’reastone’sthrowawayfromtherefreshingArdècheRiver,ArdècheGorges,andthefamousnaturalarchofPontd’Arc,youshouldtaketheopportunitytogovisit,swim,camp,hike,andkayak! Checkoutthekayaking,canoeing,andcanyoningtoursyoucandohere! GrotteChauvet–IsItWorthIt? SeeingthereplicapaintingsinsidetheGrotteChauvet2isanincrediblymovingexperience.Thewaythelightsdimandflickerandcastshadowsovertheincredibleworksofart,asifyouwereactuallythere21,000-36,000yearsagowithatorchinhand,willgiveyougoosebumps. Howabsolutelyincredibleandmind-blowingtoseehumanpresencesovividlyafterthousandsofyears.Ifyouhavethechancetogo,definitelyaddvisitingtheGrotteChauvetinArdèchetoyourFrancetravelbucketlist! LIKEIT?PINIT! 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