Grotte du Placard

Grotte du Placard is a limestone cave in Moulins-sur-Tardoire with prehistoric artwork on its walls. It sits approximately 17 meters above the Tardoire River and features a large entrance porch that opens into the natural rock chamber.

Archaeological work beginning in 1864 revealed multiple layers of human settlement from different prehistoric periods. Finds from Mousterian, Solutrean, and Magdalenian times demonstrate the extended use of this location by early societies.

The cave displays engraved horses and geometric patterns on its walls, which researchers have named as characteristic marks of this location. These depictions offer insight into the artistic expression of the people who lived there.

An interpretation center next to the cave offers virtual reality tours, video projections, and archaeological displays explaining the site. Access to the center requires no advance booking, allowing visitors to explore the history through modern tools.

The cave contains remains of both Neanderthals and modern humans, showing that different types of early people used this location. The bones discovered also indicate different burial practices that developed across thousands of years.

Location: Moulins-sur-Tardoire

GPS coordinates: 45.68970,0.41972

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:06