Cave of Niaux, Prehistoric art cave in Ariège, France
The Cave of Niaux extends across two kilometers of underground passages, featuring black-outlined paintings of animals in its limestone chambers.
Scientists first documented the cave's prehistoric significance in 1906, leading to immediate protection measures for the Magdalenian period artwork.
The paintings within the cave reveal hunting practices and animal life from 14,000 years ago through detailed depictions of bison, horses, and deer.
The cave maintains a strict visitation schedule with guided tours limited to twenty people, requiring advance reservations throughout all seasons.
The Black Hall section contains over thirty detailed animal figures drawn with charcoal and manganese dioxide against natural rock formations.
Location: Niaux
Length: 2,000 m
Address: Massif d'Arbiech 09400
GPS coordinates: 42.81985,1.59373
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:39
Occitanie encompasses an architectural and natural heritage that reflects many centuries of history. Medieval villages are nestled in valleys and on heights, while castles and monasteries tell of the era of the Cathars and religious orders. The region also features remarkable geological formations: deep gorges, waterfalls, potholes, and caves decorated with prehistoric paintings. Among the sites to visit, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie overlooks the Lot Valley with its stone houses and narrow streets. The Peyrepertuse fortress stands at 800 meters above sea level on a rocky spur in the Corbières. The Navacelles cirque reveals a canyon carved by the Vis River, while the Gorges de la Jonte provide trails through a habitat for vultures. The Lagrasse Abbey maintains its medieval architecture on the banks of the Orbieu, and the Niaux Cave houses Magdalenian paintings dating back 14,000 years. Natural curiosities like the Gouffre de l'Oeil Doux and the intermittent Fountain of Fontestorbes complete this territory where history and geology meet.
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