Just 15-20 minutes from Mas de la Fontenette (4-star gite with heated swimming pool), in the Ardèche gorges near Pont d’Arc, the original Chauvet cave is closed to the public in order to protect this world heritage site. However, an impressive and meticulous reconstruction has been carried out and is well worth a visit
Cave paintings in the original cave
Mammoths, felines, rhinoceroses and bears account for more than half of the animal figures identified. Other species depicted include horses, bison, aurochs and ibex. You’ll marvel at the deer (including megaceros) and reindeer. You will also discover exceptional images of musk oxen, owls, panthers and perhaps hyenas.
Human themes include the lower body of a woman, associated with a bison and a feline. There are also several female sexes and red hands, both positive and negative.
The Chauvet cave reconstruction area
The Chauvet cave has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Also known as Grotte Chauvet 2, a facsimile recreates the inside of the cave. Book your visit via Intenet: Grotte Chauvet 2.
Documentary: Discovering the Chauvet Cave
Cave art goes back a long way in history. In the south of the Ardèche, a masterpiece of impressionism 36,000 years before Monet: the Chauvet Cave. With its huge panels depicting animals typical of the Ice Age (reindeer, bison, horses, mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses), it is awe-inspiring. Sciences et Avenir was lucky enough to be able to film the replica of this prehistoric cave: Grotte Chauvet 2. Discover the visit commented by archaeologists. Video : Valentine Delattre and Mathieu Nowak
Frequently asked questions about the Grotte Chauvet
Estimated using the carbon-14 dating method, the perimeter paintings in the Grotte Chauvet are around 36,000 years old.
The exceptional cave paintings in the cave date from this period of the Upper Palaeolithic. This makes it one of the oldest and most remarkable cave art sites in the world.
Because of the exceptional value of its paintings and the need to preserve them, the original cave is not open to the public. A faithful replica of the cave, known as “Grotte Chauvet 2”, has been built nearby. It allows visitors to admire these prehistoric treasures while preserving the integrity of the original cave
The Grotte Chauvet was discovered in 1994 by three cavers: Jean-Marie Chauvet, Éliette Brunel Deschamps and Christian Hillaire. The cave takes its name from Jean-Marie Chauvet, who was the first to enter the cave and discover its remarkable cave paintings.
The discovery of the cave was a major event in the field of prehistoric archaeology. It revealed the existence of an exceptional collection of cave art dating back more than 30,000 years. This makes it one of the most important discoveries in the history of prehistoric art. The cave’s paintings depict a wide variety of wild animals. These include horses, lions, rhinos, mammoths and bison, as well as abstract signs and symbols.
The discovery of the Chauvet cave has enabled researchers to deepen their understanding of prehistoric art and the life of early modern man in Europe. Because of the exceptional value of its paintings and the need to preserve them, the original cave is not open to the public
The actual cave is located right next to the Pont d’Arc on the right bank of the Ardèche, near Vallon Pont d’Arc. It’s less than an hour’s walk from Mas de la Fontenette, our 4-star Gites de France gite with swimming pool. The cave is not open to the public. Only the reconstruction, known as Grotte Chauvet 2, is open to visitors. The original cave was protected for several thousand years by a collapse that blocked the entrance
Because of the fragility of the cave art it contains and the need to preserve this precious heritage, the original Chauvet cave is not open to the public.
However, a faithful replica of the cave, called“Grotte Chauvet 2“, has been built nearby and has been open to visitors since 2015. Grotte Chauvet 2 precisely recreates the features of the original Grotte Chauvet. Its remarkable cave paintings, dating back more than 30,000 years, are all there.
Visitors can explore the Caverne du Pont d’Arc on guided tours. They can admire the exceptional prehistoric paintings, as well as learn about the lives and beliefs of the first prehistoric artists. This replica offers a unique opportunity to discover the fascinating cave art of the Grotte Chauvet, while preserving the original cave and avoiding the potential damage caused by an influx of visitors.
Cave art refers to art made on the walls of caves or rock shelters. The term is often used to refer to paintings, engravings and other forms of prehistoric artistic expression made on the inside walls of natural cavities.
Cave art dates back thousands, even tens of thousands of years. It is mainly associated with the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods. Our ancestors created these prehistoric works of art in different parts of the world. They bear witness to their creativity, their beliefs and their way of life.
The subjects depicted in cave art often include wild animals, humans, abstract symbols and scenes of hunting or rituals. Artists often created these works using mineral pigments, charcoal or other locally available materials. They sometimes executed them with great precision and a remarkable aesthetic sense. Cave art is of major importance to our understanding of human history and prehistory. It offers clues as to how our ancestors lived, thought and expressed their vision of the world thousands of years ago. The decorated caves of Lascaux in France and Altamira in Spain are examples of world-famous cave art sites, archaeological and artistic treasures