• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

How to Visit the Chauvet Cave in France: The Oldest-Known Prehistoric Paintings

Last Updated: November 25, 2022 · France

While there have been several prehistoric cave discoveries across the world, there’s only one place where you can witness the best-preserved and oldest-known paintings — The Grotte Chauvet (Chauvet Cave) in southeastern France.

wooly mammoth inside the Aurignacian Gallery inside Grotte Chauvet 2 park in France

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Visiting the UNESCO-listed, oldest-known prehistoric cave paintings in France wasn’t exactly on my radar. But thanks to my partner’s family being from the Ardèche region of France, we got to visit and all I have to say is this: Incredible!

If you are traveling through the south of France, along the French Riviera, or exploring Aix and the lavender fields of Provence, then make sure to take a short day trip to see the Grotte Chauvet 2 and swim in the gorges of the Ardèche River under the famous Pont d’Arc arch. You won’t regret it!

Table of Contents show
Guide: Visiting the Grotte Chauvet in France
History of the Grotte Chauvet Discovery
How to Get to the Grotte Chauvet
Where to Stay Nearby La Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc
Grotte Chauvet Tours
Things to Do at Grotte Chauvet 2
Animals & Paintings Found in the Grotte Chauvet
Chauvet Cave Hand Prints
Cave Lion / End Chamber Panel
Horses Panel
Mammoths, Rhinoceroses, Bison
Human Footprint
Things to Do Nearby the Chauvet Cave
Grotte Chauvet — Is It Worth It?

Guide: Visiting the Grotte Chauvet in France

the outside of the grotte chauvet cavern museum in france
child inside cavern grotte chauvet looking at mural of prehistoric paintings
© Patrick Aventurier

History of the Grotte Chauvet Discovery

The Grotte de Chauvet was discovered in December 1994 by three spelunkers (cavers). Jean-Marie Chauvet, Élliette Brunel, and Christian Hillaire were hiking on the Cirque d’Estre when a breeze from a nearby hole piqued their interest. They dug away at the rock and slipped inside (after returning to get their gear), and discovered what would soon become known as one of the most impressive and significant discoveries of prehistoric mankind.

Upon entering the high-roofed cavern, they explored with their flashlights, taking care to preserve the ground on which they stepped with plastic coverings. Animal bones, such as cave bears and cave lions, were found as well as remarkable hand-painted animal figures on the cave walls.

During the extensive expedition following the initial discovery, they even discovered a perfectly preserved human footprint.

The cave managed to keep everything preserved for over 21,000 years – the estimated date when the cave’s main entrance was completely closed off due to a massive, and final, rock collapse.

aerial view of the Grotte Chauvet 2 museum in Ardeche France © Patrick Aventurier
Courtesy of Grotte Chauvet 2 Ardèche

The oldest-dated painting, however, dates back further than that! Scientists were able to date the artwork all the way back 36,000 years ago – thanks to direct carbon dating from one of the paintings.

In an effort to not repeat the mistake of the Lascaux Cave, the oldest-known prehistoric cave paintings prior to the Chauvet discovery (19,000 years), expert Jean Clotte, who led the expedition, decided Grotte Chauvet should be protected at all costs. As such, it was decided that the original cave would never open to the public for the benefit of future generations in our collective understanding of our shared ancestors and humanity.

Eager to share this incredible artwork with the world, however, they moved forward with a vigorous plan to copy and construct a near-exact replica of the Chauvet Cave and named it Chauvet Cave 2. Today, the Chauvet Cave replica is “the world’s biggest replica of an otherwise inaccessible cave art site” with a floor area of over 8500m² (91,500ft²).

How to Get to the Grotte Chauvet

pedestrian sign inside Grotte Chauvet 2 park in 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. To get there, you’ll likely need to combine plane + train + car.

If you’re already in France, the easiest way to get to the Chauvet Cave is by train and car. If you’re flying into France, you’ll get the best prices if you land at the international airport of Lyon-Saint-Exupéry outside the city of Lyon. From there, it’s a 2hr20m drive.

There are also the airports of Avignon-Provence (1hr 16m), Montpellier (2hrs), and Marseille (2hrs), in case you want to price check routes to those as well. Renting a car at one of the airports would also be an option if you are comfortable and familiar with driving in Europe (note: most vehicles are stick shifts).

  • Check bus options to Vallon Pont d’Arc on Busbud
  • Rent a car in Lyon or at another airport

From any airport or mid-size town/city (such as Lyon, Montpellier, Valence, Aix-en-Provence, Saint-Étienne, etc), you can take a TGV (high-speed train) to get to Vallon Pont d’Arc.

📍 Address: 4941 Route de Bourg St Andéol, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, France

⏰ Hours: 8:30 am – 9 pm, Mon-Sun

📱 Phone: +33 04 75 94 39 40

Where to Stay Nearby La Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc

Stone-decorated hotel and garden in Vallon Pont d'Arc via Booking.com

Le Manoir du Raveyron via Booking.com

The closest town to the Grotte Chauvet 2 is the endearing town of Vallon Pont d’Arc. From here, the cave is but a 4-minute drive away (3.3 mi, 5.3 km) and the famous Pont d’Arc arch. Nearby popular places to stay are:

  • Le Manoir du Raveyron — charming and cozy stone-decorated hotel with an outdoor garden, and free breakfast. 
  • Prehistoric Lodge — individual ecolodges located at the entrance of the Ardèche Gorges surrounded by nature.
  • Hotel Berneron — a clean and pet-friendly upscale hotel located in the lively town center, complete with breakfast, pool, and terrace.
  • Le Silex — a stylish and chic hotel set inside a cave with stone bathtubs, candle lighting, and modern furnishings. 

Note: Summer months book out weeks-months in advance, so reserve ahead!

Grotte Chauvet Tours

Grotte Chauvet Tour

© Franck Charton

You cannot tour the original Chauvet Cave. Luckily, Chauvet Cave 2 is a near-perfect replica (apart from the shape), which you are more than welcome to tour.

The day tours are guided 1-hour visits inside the cave. If you’d prefer to visit independently, you can do a self-guided tour in the evening.

How guided Chauvet Cave tours work:

  1. Book your tour time online here (costs €17 for adults, €8.50 for youth aged 10-17).
  2. Show up 30 minutes before to check in at the reception/ticket counter. Once inside, wait at the tour entrance 10 minutes before your time.
  3. Your guide will speak into a microphone, which you will hear from your headset (provided for you).
  4. The walking tour will take you through the dim-lit cave, while your guide will explain the paintings and archaeological discoveries on the cave floor.
  5. After exiting, you will hand back your headset and are free to tour the rest of the Chauvet-Pont d’Arc park.

⚠️  All visitors must present either a vaccination QR code (for Europeans/French nationals) or the equivalent (our vaccination card from Wal-Mart was accepted) and/or a negative test in order to enter the park.

Note: Photography/videography is not allowed inside the cave during the tour. Luckily, all the original photos of the real Chauvet Cave are made available online here and are copyright-free. 

If you would like to have a preview of the inside of the cave, do check out the below simulation in 360°. It is a wonderfully made video that really gives you a sense of the atmosphere.

Beyond the cave museum, there is much more to see at Grotte Chauvet 2.

Things to Do at Grotte Chauvet 2

wooly mammoth inside the Aurignacian Gallery inside Grotte Chauvet 2 park in France

The Aurignacian Gallery — This is perhaps the most fascinating part of the park beyond the cave. Here, you get to watch a short film about the Aurignacian people and then proceed into a large room with true-to-scale animals that lived during the Ice Age. You could spend hours here reading all of the prompts available. There are also games and interactive spaces for families with children.

Paleolithic Camp — Don’t miss out on live reenactments, explanations, and fun storytelling at the Paleolithic Camp area. Here, you can watch how the Aurignacians might have used tools for making fires, weapons, musical instruments, and lived daily life.

a Megaloceros inside the Aurignacian Gallery at Chauvet Cave 2
A life-size model of the extinct Megaloceros (giant elk) inside the Aurignacian Gallery

Demonstration encampment of prehistoric Aurignacians at the Chauvet Cave 2 park
Paleolithic Campsite

Restaurant La Terrasse — The on-site restaurant inside the Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc park sources 75% of its ingredients and dishes from the surrounding region of Ardèche. Locally sourced and healthy, the restaurant is a great place to eat and discover the tastes of southern Ardèche. Despite being served in cafeteria-style form, the food is quite nicely plated and delicious.

Viewpoint / Discovery Points — Before/after your cave tour, make sure to circle the upper-level terrace for a nice viewpoint on the hills and valleys of Ardèche that mark the skyline. Also, as you walk from point to point in the park, take time to read about the expedition and construction process of the cave, which can be found at five different shaded rest areas (they’re indicated on the map you receive upon entry).

viewpoint of Ardèche mountains from the Belvédère at Grotte Chauvet
Panorama of the Ardèche mountains from the Chauvet Belvédère viewpoint

dish of grilled rainbow trout and mashed potatoes from restaurant La Terrasse at Grotte Chauvet 2
Lunch at La Terrasse restaurant inside Grotte Chauvet 2 park

Animals & Paintings Found in the Grotte Chauvet

Not only are the Chauvet Cave paintings the oldest-known example in the world, but they’ve also become the earliest signs of man’s expression of art.

I always hated literary-historical interpretation in school. “This author clearly wanted to highlight the immortality of life through this wilted leaf.” But, man always tries to find meaning. And, as you go on this tour, the guides will say this shading technique – or that flick of the wrist – was purposefully done with skill and expertise. In other words, executed with meaning.

And yes, while the Aurignacian artists must’ve had a purpose for going into this cave, despite the dangers lurking in the shadows, to paint, it can be hard to really explain the “why.” No one really knows why they (or an individual) decided to represent these animals – and some human body parts – the way they did.

But what we do know is that it is indeed someone’s art — whether to create a story to tell over time, or to simply represent the majestic scenes of wildlife roaming outside the cave.

Below are some examples of paintings you’ll see inside the Chauvet Cave.

Chauvet Cave Hand Prints

hand-painted prehistoric bison using red ochre paint on hand palms
© Patrick Aventurier

The first, and arguably the most puzzling, painting is a collection of red ochre hand-palm dots that draw the shape of a bison. No fingers were painted and used — and this detail, too, is left to debate and speculation.

Cave Lion / End Chamber Panel

child inside cavern grotte chauvet looking at mural of prehistoric paintings
© Patrick Aventurier

The most intricate and impressive painting inside the real Chauvet Cave lies at the very back of the cave (which, in reality, is shaped like a Y and not like a circle as in Chauvet Cave 2).

The cave lion panel inside the End Chamber is the most elaborate mural of all the 450+ documented paintings. It includes 15 different species and a total of 92 animals, most of which are lions, in a spectacular work of art.

The figures seem to be in motion, which adds a whole other dimension, scale, and meaning to the masterpiece.

Horses Panel

prehistoric painting of horses inside Grotte Chauvet cave

© Patrick Aventurier

The Horses Panel, located at the northern end of the Hillaire Chamber is described as one of the most beautiful prehistoric artworks of all time. The four horses each have different expressions and all are shaded with charcoal in exceptional detail using the stump-drawing technique.

Mammoths, Rhinoceroses, Bison

rhino mural inside Chauvet cave
© Patrick Aventurier

female rhino drawn by prehistoric man inside the cave of Chauvet in Ardeche France
© Patrick Aventurier

While less elaborate, the other panels and paintings inside the Chauvet Cave are no less mesmerizing. Animals represented on walls and rock formations are wooly mammoths, leopards, cave lions, cave bears, reindeer, wooly rhinoceroses, bison, and more.

Cave bear hollows (bedding) and 190+ cave bear bones were also found inside the real Grotte Chauvet.

Human Footprint

There is a single human footprint, perfectly preserved, in the soft soil inside the Chauvet Cave. Above it are black burn marks on the rock wall, likely from the hand-held torch. Ashes and embers, from manmade fireplaces, were also found.

Thanks to carbon dating from the charcoal near the footprint, scientists were able to date the footprint, which apparently belongs to a young teen boy, back 26,000 years ago.

Things to Do Nearby the Chauvet Cave

Tourists sunbathing at Pont de l'Arc near Grotte Chauvet 2 in southern France.
view of the Pont d'Arc arch and Ardeche river
The famous Pont d’Arc nearby the real Grotte Chauvet

Since you’re a stone’s throw away from the refreshing Ardèche River, Ardèche Gorges, and the famous natural arch of Pont d’Arc, you should take the opportunity to go visit, swim, camp, hike, and kayak!

Check out the kayaking, canoeing, and canyoning tours you can do here!

kayakers and canoers on the Ardeche River at Pont d'Arc

Grotte Chauvet — Is It Worth It?

Seeing the replica paintings inside the Grotte Chauvet 2 is a wonderfully moving experience. The way the lights dim and flicker and cast shadows over the incredible works of art, as if you were actually there 21,000-36,000 years ago with a torch in hand, will give you goosebumps.

How absolutely incredible and mind-blowing to see human presence so vividly after thousands of years. If you have the chance to go, definitely add visiting the Grotte Chauvet in Ardèche to your France travel bucket list!

LIKE IT? PIN IT!

pictures of grotte chauvet and pont d'arc with text overlay
pictures of pont d'arc and grotte chauvet prehistoric paintings in France with text overlay
pictures of horse panel and Aurignacian Gallery inside Grotte Chauvet 2 park in France


  • Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
  • Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
  • Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
  • Share via EmailShare via Email

By: Bri · In: France

you’ll also love

Lyon's Old Town with Renaissance architecture with arched breezeways and a lion statue.30 Amazing Things to Do in Lyon, France (The Ultimate Bucket List!)
Lyon in the fall with lake and Fourvière Basilica in background.The Ultimate 3-Day Lyon, France Itinerary
An empty street (Rue) in the heart of Vieux Lyon, France.Lyon in a Day: The Perfect 1 Day Itinerary

Join the List

Stay up to date with the latest adventures and travel guides.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

24 Hours in Madrid, Spain: What to Do During a Long Layover

Primary Sidebar

hello!

I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

About Me

Connect

join the list

Featured Posts

French Potato Pancake — “Crique” Recipe

Woman hiking at Pacaya Volcano on a day trip from Antigua Guatemala

10 Best Day Trips from Antigua Guatemala

Best Travel Accessories for Backpackers - Bits of Bri

Best Travel Accessories for Backpackers

QUICK LINKS

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS

Search

Let’s Connect!

@bucketlistbri

Eating as a solo female traveler in Japan 🇯🇵 Eating as a solo female traveler in Japan 🇯🇵 >>

I used to loathe eating alone in public but Japan literally is where you go to do just that! 🍜🍡🍣

My confidence level after walking into this bar and taking up space with no fear 🥲❤️‍🔥

Have you ever felt intimidated to eat alone in public or alone as a woman? 🙈 

S/o to all the courteous men and women who made me feel so welcome as a solo female traveler in Japan. No matter whether I was eating at 9pm in some random place on a rainy night or midday in a stand-up bar drinking beer, I was never judged nor “talked up” once. And it was amazing and freeing and sooo appreciated 🤍⚡️

#japantravel #solofemaletraveler #japanfood #solotravelstories #localtravel
Dear me, thank you 🥰 This is your sign to tak Dear me, thank you 🥰 

This is your sign to take yourself to your dream destination (even—or especially—if you have to go solo!) ✨✨✨

Follow along to see my adventures in Japan! 🇯🇵 

#japantrip #solotraveling #japanawaits #travelingsolo #mindfultravel
Memories from Morjim, Anjuna, & Panjim (Goa, India Memories from Morjim, Anjuna, & Panjim (Goa, India) 🇮🇳 

1. Waiting on India's first digital nomad conference to start! (CYF CON) 

2a. The funkiest hippie/night market in Anjuna

2b. Overlooking the beautiful and historic Panjim (the capital of Goa) 🌴

2c. One of the oldest + most popular Portuguese Baroque-style chapels in Goa (Lady of Immaculate Conception, Panjim)

3. I specifically requested a yellow scooter just so I could take a picture like this lol 🛵

4a. Kitty portrait inside a really cool speakeasy

4b. Feeling cute at the cutest little outdoor gin cocktail bar 

4c. Sunset over Chapora Bay + Arabian Sea

4d. Nightlife / beach shacks on Arpora 

5. Looking out at the sea from atop the ruined Chapora Fort

6. Bollywood dancing with the gals 💃🏼

7. Street shot in Panjim 📸

8. Wandering around the Fontainhas Latin Quarter (Panjim)

9a. Morjim Beach (shot from atop Chapora Fort)

9b. Local Goans + holy cow walking on Mandrem beach at sunset 🌅 

10. Enjoying our stay at the lovely  @anamivagoa 

PS. All of these memories and experiences wouldn’t have been possible without @nurall_co 💛 Nurall's next remote work retreat is in KHAO LAK, THAILAND 🇹🇭this July 2023 (cost: $900 USD only). Comment or DM me for an extra 5% off if you’re interested in signing up!

#goa #indiatraveldiaries #morjim #anjuna #panjim #slowtravel #remoteworklife #nomadiccreators #digitalnomadgirls
Whether its for adventure, community, or leveling Whether its for adventure, community, or leveling up your business, a digital nomad / remote work retreat is one of the best ways to work remotely and travel! 💻✈️

I’ve rounded up some of the best curated trips and retreats out there in my latest blog post (🔗 in bio to check it out!) 

Featured in my guide are:

@nurall_co 
@beunsettled 
@minoma.co 
@workwanderers
@the_nomad_escape
@remoteyear

Types of experiences you could discover with these guys range from training for 🥊 Muay Thai in Khao Lak, Thailand (@nurall_co co) to 🥾 hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain (@beunsettled) to ⛺️ camping out in the desert of Morocco (@minoma.co), and more!

WHY JOIN A NOMAD / REMOTE WORK RETREAT? 👇

Retreats offer curated itineraries/experiences designed to bring you epic adventures in bucket list destinations, plug you into the local scene, and collab with like-minded souls — all while leveling up your business/entrepreneurial skills and remote lifestyle and giving you creative space to cowork in beautiful places. 🤗

On a digital nomad retreat, you might...

💡Strike a new business idea
⚡️Spark a sweet romance with a stranger
👀 Get your project noticed by an investor
🥰 Form a life-long friendship (or a few!)
🌿 Build a new brand from scratch
💃 Change directions completely in your personal life
🧘‍♀️ Strengthen your sense of self, confidence, and spirituality

These are just examples of the very many outcomes you could gain from attending a digital nomad retreat.

In short, these programs have the power to evoke positive change in your life and, more often than not, your investment is rewarded handsomely (in more ways than one). ✌️

I’m long-time digital slomad, but after discovering Goa, India with @nurall_co I’m most definitely going to attend more retreats like this in the future! ✨✨

*Not spons, btw! Just sharing ways you can find a community of digital nomads, whether you want to be one or already are one! 👩🏼‍💻💛

My blog guide shares the deets about price, location, etc — go check it out and save this reel! ✨

#digitalnomads #remoteworkandtravel #grouptravel #grouptrip #remoteworklife #laptoplifestyle #digitalnomadgirls
< 1 week until we get to do this again! Adventur < 1 week until we get to do this again! 

Adventures await us in our beasty 1990 Roadtrek 🚐🌲🥾 — she’s been sitting out winter in Washington while we tanned our toes in Mexico 🇲🇽 

I’ve never been able to choose between the mountains ⛰️ and the sea 🌊 … you? 

Tell me what kind of summer you’re manifesting in the comments! 🧡

#vanlife #summeriscoming #granolagirl #roadtrek #pnwadventures #outdoorsy #homeiswhereyouparkit
And... WE’RE LIVE!! 🚀 I’m stoked (read 90 And... WE’RE LIVE!! 🚀 

I’m stoked (read 90% nervous, 10% excited), to share that @slomadstories is officially OUT THERE! 

I actually had the first episode published on April 4th, but was too shy to share about it until now. 

But, as you’ll hear when you tune in... (🥳) this podcast isn’t just about highlighting raw, meaningful stories of adventure by ordinary people who seek an extraordinary life — YES, it’s mostly about that — but the very heart of this podcast is about DOING things despite how much they SCARE you or thrust you into the UNKNOWN.

I’ve always *tried* to live my one very short life by seeking to know, chasing curiosity, and jumping headfirst into the journey. 

— This podcast is simply a new endeavor, a new project that WILL NOT stop whispering at my heart. I’ve been trying to deny this urge, this tug, for so long! The whispers started in 2020 when a person who I thought would become a close friend bailed on the idea to start one together. So I let the idea go, for a while. But then it came back twice as strong in 2022, when I was living as a temporary nomad in Portugal for two months. It was there that I had my podcast cover art designed. That was already 1.5 years ago! 

Life passes us by...

We hear the whispers, we see the project coming to life in our heads, we feel the pull...

But we say no over and over again, and we make very legitimate excuses, until ultimately, the idea, the spark, the magic, fades; it chooses someone else to birth the idea and manifest itself into creation (something I learned reading “Big Magic” by Liz Gilbert, it’s amazing, go read it!). 

I have no idea why I felt the need to start a podcast, it’s not like I am already juggling enough.

But I wanted to, for me.

For you ✨ 

For everyone who ever chased that feeling, that tug. 

Because that?? 

That’s been my life for the last decade. I moved abroad countless times — and stayed — from Nepal to Mexico and beyond, and I would’ve never done ANY of it if I had not listened to the whispers.

This podcast is about continuing in the pursuit of the unknown, seeking more, and taking decisive action.

Welcome to Slomad Stories, & thank you for being here. 🧡

Xx,
Bri
Follow My Adventures

Footer

On the Blog

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

Info

  • Work With Me
  • My Blog Course
  • Slomad Stories Podcast
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

adventures await x

Copyright © 2023 · Bucketlist Bri | All Rights Reserved

17 shares