Location: Dordogne
Top Things to do in Dordogne
Top Hotels in Dordogne
10 Caverns & Caves in Dordogne That You Shouldn't Miss
Dordogne (French pronunciation: [dɔʁdɔɲ]; Occitan: Dordonha) is a department in southwestern France, with its prefecture in Périgueux. The department is located in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, and is named after the Dordogne river that runs through it. It corresponds roughly with the ancient county of Périgord.
Restaurants in Dordogne
1. Cave of Font-de-Gaume
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 764 reviews
The Font-de-Gaume cave is a marvellous example of prehistoric art from the Madgalenian period with a truly remarkable group of polychrome wall paintings and engravings. For reasons of conservation, the number of visitors is limited to 180 each day with a maximum of 12 people per group. Cave of the Vezere valley designated world heritage site by UNESCO. Open: > 15th May to 15th September: from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. > 16th September to 14th May: from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Last visit at 4 p.m. Open in accordance with conservation necessities. Closed: > Saturdays. > 1st January, 1st May, 1st November, 11th November and 25th December. Admission fees: Adults : 7,50 €; Concessions (18 to 25) = 4,50 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups
Reviewed By wanderingwanda855 - Berkeley, United States
We visited on Sunday, October 13, 2019 and we arrived at 7:30 a.m., two hours before the ticket window opened at 9:30 a.m. It was dark and cool (but not cold) and we got seats #3 and #4. By 9:30 a.m., only about 15 of the 30 available seats where taken, which was surprising given all the posts indicating a much higher early turnout. Perhaps because it was after peak tourist season (?). One important note is the cave is closed on Saturdays. On the Sunday we visited, they were going to allow up to 70 people to enter the Font-de-Gaume cave that day and up to 25 people into Les Combarelles. They were only offering tours in French all day for both caves. However, because the first 9-10 people in line were English speakers, they ended up changing the first tour from French to English. For our French tour of Les Combarelles in the afternoon, there were only 5 people and the two French-speaking guests in the group agreed to allow the tour guide to do the tour in both French and English, which was nice of them and helpful for us. Font de Gaume has polychromatic cave paintings while Les Combarelles has etchings, so they are very different - both are worthwhile. Since we had several hours between the two tours, we visited Le village de la Madeleine, the remains of a troglodyte and medieval village to the north, which was also interesting and worthwhile.
2. Les Combarelles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 204 reviews
Reviewed By wanderingwanda855 - Berkeley, United States
Since it's the same line to get tickets to both caves, and the etchings in this cave are quite different from the polychromatic cave paintings at Font-de-Gaume, it is worthwhile to buy tickets to this cave if they are available, even if there are no English tours. Fewer people are allowed into this cave than Font-de-Gaume but the history is similar. So if you get an English tour at Font-de-Gaume but only a French tour to Les Combarelles, you'll already have learned about the background and history.
3. Abri du Poisson
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
4. Grotte de Rouffignac
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 951 reviews
Reviewed By davide-a-g-i
We arrived there around 9.20 to find already a big queue. Could only get a place for 11:30, so I strongly recommend to get there early. That being said, the cave is gorgeous and I totally understand the way it is being protected by limiting the number of daily visitors, to avoid the fate of other famous caves like Lascaux. The train is a nice touch and the guide was clearly passionate about prehistoric art. Lovely place in a lovely region.
5. Grotte de Tourtoirac
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 438 reviews
What we will show you is a fabulous journey, from the heart of the earth to the heart of men, between geology, history and a human adventure. Discovered in 1995, the TOURTOIRAC CAVE marvels its inventor and his caver friends. Over time, water and nature have dug the cavity and have decorated and designed in a huge fresco. Following the underground river, you will be immersed in a spectacle of light and shadow between columns and draperies, eccentrics and fistulas.This unforgettable journey to TOURTOIRAC will lead you to discover this village marked first by the prehistory then the history of an ancient abbey.
Reviewed By 255richardk - Tulle, France
There is a 13.30 tour each day just in I believe July and August in English, which we attended as our knowledge of French regarding caves and stalagmites is zero. You are taken down to the caves in groups of up to a dozen in a modern lift. Once down, the walking surfaces are all flat enough to be wheel chair friendly and reasonably well lit. The stalagmites and stalagtites on show are ****truly fantastic **** having taken thousands of years to grow to in some cases several metres in length. The walking tour takes about an hour and as the temperature in the caves is just 13C take a fleece! Guide was able to answer our many questions. This site has only been open since 2010 and is owned and run by the village council. Go and support them, you won’t be disappointed. €7.5 entry fee in 2019. There is a cafe and shop on site. Parking is all pretty exposed to sun so don’t take pets.
6. Grotte de Bernifal
7. Grotte de Villars
8. Grotte du Grand Roc
9. Lascaux II
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,163 reviews
Lascaux II is the facsimile of the original cave. It is an exact copy of the 2 main halls of Lascaux, closed to the public in 1963. It contains 90% of the paintings of Lascaux. The Lascaux II tour is guided and lasts 40 minutes.
Reviewed By 176gabid - Toronto, Canada
We visited Lascaux II and arrived just as they were closing for lunch, which they do after the busy summer months. However they let us purchase tickets for the English tour at 3 pm before closing. We spent the time to visit the large museum at Lascaux IV where we also enjoyed some tea/coffee on the terrace. Our 90 minute tour at Lascaux II started right on time and our guide was great - both entertaining and informative. The recreated caves were amazing, felt authentic and were much better than I expected. I highly recommend this tour.
10. Abri de Cap Blanc
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 175 reviews
This Prehistoric cave from the Magdalenian era lies just a few kilometres east of Les Eyzies on the right bank of the Beune river. It was classified as a listed site in 1926 in recognition of its unique sculptures. The frieze covers all but two metres of the 15-metre deep cave and features horses, bison and deer, some of which overlap. Originally, the sculptures were probably coloured since traces of ochre pigment were found during earlier archaeological digs. The remarkable depth and vibrancy of these sculptures carved with flint tools make the Cap-Blanc Cave one of the greatest masterpieces of Prehistoric art from the Upper Palaeolithic period. A museographical area around the friezes gives an overview of Cap-Blanc life and art. Cave of the Vézère valley designated world heritage site by UNESCO. Open: > All the year with prior reservation. > Low season: to visit the cave, contact the reception centre at the Font-de-Gaume cave in Les Eyzies. > High season from 15th May to 15th September: reception on the site from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last visit at 5 p.m.). Closed: > Saturdays. > 1st January, 1st May, 1st November, 11th November and 25th December. Admission fees: Adults : 7,50 €; Concessions (18 to 25) = 4,50 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups
Reviewed By fssutton1 - Charleston, United States
I would agree with previous comments. We got our ticket at Font de Gaume and were told to arrive at 4 PM. We were the only people on the English tour. Takes about an hour to see these excellent examples of cave art.
