Font-de-Gaume

Font-de-Gaume is a limestone cave that holds more than 200 Paleolithic paintings and engravings of animals on its walls, stretching for about 120 meters. Visitors tour it in small guided groups to help preserve these delicate artworks on the stone surface.

The cave was discovered in 1901 and holds authentic polychrome artworks from the Magdalenian period, roughly 17,000 years ago. This era marked advances in hunting methods and artistic skill among the people living in the region.

The cave walls show animals like bison, horses, and mammoths created through engraving, painting, and mixed techniques. These images reveal what mattered to the hunter-gatherers who lived here and hunted these creatures.

Access is limited and requires advance booking, with a maximum of 78 visitors per day entering in small groups. Tours last about one hour, and it is wise to wear comfortable shoes and bring a light jacket since the cave is cool and sometimes damp inside.

It remains one of the last caves in France where original polychrome paintings are still open to visitors under careful conditions. This rarity makes it an invaluable place to see authentic Stone Age art as it truly was.

Location: Les Eyzies

Part of: Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley

GPS coordinates: 44.93695,1.02659

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02