Grotte Chauvet 2 - Ardèche

36,000 years ago, in a deep cave, the first artists in human history painted a masterpiece: horses, lions, rhinoceroses and many other animals captured in the act of hunting, running or fighting. Discovered in 1994, the Chauvet Cave, which revolutionised the history of art and our understanding of the past, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its replica, the Grotte Chauvet 2 – Ardèche, which opened in 2015, now allows the public to discover ‘Humanity’s first great masterpiece’. An unmissable cultural destination just a stone’s throw from the Ardèche Gorges and the Pont-d’Arc, it has established itself as the most visited cultural site in the Ardèche. A visit to the cave (either guided or via an audio guide, with audio tours tailored to age and level of knowledge) invites you on a journey to the origins of art and an immersion in Prehistory. On site, further discoveries await you, such as the Aurignacian Gallery, which complements the tour of the reconstruction and offers a deeper understanding of who our ancestors were, their art and their environment, through an immersive and interactive exhibition. Through the temporary exhibition “Chauvet Cave: The Scientific Adventure”, Grotte Chauvet 2 invites you to follow the scientists’ work step by step, explore their methods and experience the scientific adventure for yourself. Throughout the year, a programme of cultural events, talks, workshops and activities allows visitors to extend their experience and rediscover the age-old practices of our ancestors. Admission includes a tour of the cave, access to the Aurignacian Gallery, the ‘Chauvet Cave: The Scientific Adventure’ exhibition, and activities and workshops (subject to the programme). Allow around 4 hours to explore the entire site! You can also enjoy the restaurant with its panoramic view of the Monts d’Ardèche, open all year round, as well as the bookshop and gift shop with over 1,000 items. On Monday and Thursday evenings in summer and during the Christmas holidays, experience prehistory in a whole new way with ‘Les Soirées de Chauvet’! Discover the light and sound trail at dusk, featuring numerous playful, spectacular, poetic and musical installations: giant video mapping on the cave’s façade, holograms of prehistoric animals, plays of light and shadow at the Palaeolithic camp, an original musical experience on the esplanade, and entertainment for young and old alike – all awaiting you for an evening like no other! To appreciate this visit, children must be aged 3 or above Wheelchairs are available on request at reception and at the entrance to the cave