Top 10 Caverns & Caves in Aquitaine, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

April 23, 2022 Jacquiline Darosa

Discover the best top things to do in Aquitaine, France including Cave of Font-de-Gaume, Les Combarelles, Abri du Poisson, Grotte de Rouffignac, Grotte de La Verna, Grotte de Pair-non-Pair, Grotte de Tourtoirac, Grotte de Bernifal, Grottes d'Isturitz & Oxocelhaya, Grotte de Villars.
Restaurants in Aquitaine

1. Cave of Font-de-Gaume

4 avenue des Grottes, 24620 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil France +33 5 53 06 86 00 [email protected] http://eyzies.monuments-nationaux.fr/en
Excellent
79%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 764 reviews

Cave of Font-de-Gaume

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

On D47, 10 1/2 miles north of Bergerac, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil France +33 5 53 06 90 80
Excellent
82%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 204 reviews

Les Combarelles

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

Font-de-Gaume cave, 16440 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil France +33 5 53 06 86 00 http://www.sites-les-eyzies.fr/en/
Excellent
64%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 11 reviews

Abri du Poisson

4. Grotte de Rouffignac

24580 Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac France +33 5 53 05 41 71 http://www.grottederouffignac.fr/
Excellent
63%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 951 reviews

Grotte de Rouffignac

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 La Verna

Espace d'accueil Arrakotchepia Sainte Engrave, 64560 Sainte-Engrace France +33 9 75 17 75 66 [email protected] http://www.laverna.fr
Excellent
73%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 270 reviews

Grotte de La Verna

6. Grotte de Pair-non-Pair

669 Nr D, 33710 Prignac-Et-Marcamps France +33 5 57 68 33 40 [email protected] http://pair-non-pair.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/
Excellent
55%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 92 reviews

Grotte de Pair-non-Pair

Discovered in 1881, the cave of Pair-non-Pair contains engravings (featuring horses, ibexes, cervidae, mammoths) which rank among the most ancient examples of art made by prehistoric man (between 33 000 and 26 000 years old). Prehistoric objects and artefacts discovered at the Pair-non-Pair Caves are on display in a special museum section. Open: > 15th June to 15th September: from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. > 16th September to 14th June: from 9.30 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Last admission 1 hour before closing time. Closed: > Mondays (besides exceptions). > 1st January, 1st May 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

7. Grotte de Tourtoirac

Le Bourg, 24390 Tourtoirac France +33 5 53 50 24 77 [email protected] http://www.grotte-de-tourtoirac.fr
Excellent
50%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 438 reviews

Grotte de Tourtoirac

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.

8. Grotte de Bernifal

Grotte de Bernifal, Meyrals, Saint-Cyprien France
Excellent
70%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
2%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 88 reviews

Grotte de Bernifal

9. Grottes d'Isturitz & Oxocelhaya

Quartier Herebehere, 64640 Saint-Martin-d'Arberoue France +33 5 59 29 64 72 [email protected] http://grottes-isturitz.com/
Excellent
49%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 392 reviews

Grottes d'Isturitz & Oxocelhaya

Prehistorical caves and a nature's master piece ! 1 hour guided visit ! prehistory & geology

10. Grotte de Villars

Lieu Dit le Cluzeau, 24530 Villars, Brantome en Perigord France +33 5 53 54 82 36 http://www.grotte-villars.com
Excellent
56%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 343 reviews

Grotte de Villars

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