Grotte Chauvet 2 - Ardèche

36,000 years ago, in a deep cave, the first artists in the history of mankind painted a masterpiece: horses, lions, rhinoceroses and many other animals captured on film, hunting, running or fighting. Discovered in 1994, the Chauvet cave, which revolutionized the history of art and mentalities, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its replica, Grotte Chauvet 2 - Ardèche, opened in 2015, now allows the public to discover mankind's first great masterpiece. An unmissable cultural destination just a stone's throw from the Ardèche Gorges and Pont-d'Arc, it has established itself as the most visited cultural site in the Ardèche. A visit to the cave invites you on a journey to the origins of art, an immersion in prehistory. Other discoveries await you on site, such as the Galerie de l'Aurignacien, which completes the visit to the replica and provides a better understanding of our ancestors, their art and their environment, in an immersive and interactive scenography. The large exhibition and showroom is currently presenting "Animal, from prehistory to street art", an immersive experience with 360° sound and light. An enchanting show with a universal language, an invitation to move through the heart of a monumental fresco, animated and enhanced by an original musical composition! Throughout the year, a program of cultural events, conferences, workshops and activities enables visitors to extend the experience and rediscover the age-old gestures of our ancestors. Admission includes a guided tour of the cave, access to the Galerie de l'Aurignacien, the show "Animal, de la Préhistoire au street art", and workshops during vacations and weekends from April to October. Take advantage of the restaurant and its panoramic view, open all year round, as well as the bookshop-boutique with over 1,000 items. On Monday and Thursday evenings this summer, from 6 July to 27 August 2026, and during the Christmas holidays, experience prehistory in a whole new way with Les Soirées de Chauvet! Discover the light and sound tour 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 campsite, and a unique musical experience! 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