At Grotte du Pech-Merle, one of the few of Upper Paleolithic caves in France still open to the public, view children's footprints preserved in what was once clay, over 0.8 km (0.5 mi) underground. Amidst the stalagmites, stalactites, and other natural formations, view iconic cave paintings of spotted horses and woolly mammoths. Red handprints reach out to you from prehistoric times. Plexiglas protects the paintings and prints, but you can still come within inches of these remnants of the Gravettian culture, which was in existence around 25,000 BCE. English tours must be booked in advance, and slots fill up quickly. The drive to get here is long, on steep, one-lane country roads. Take a look at our Cabrerets trip itinerary planning tool to schedule your visit to Grotte du Pech-Merle and learn about what else to see and do during your holiday.
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Grotte du Pech-Merle Reviews
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The cave and its paintings are amazing. Without any of the paintings, the geology of the cave would still be worth the visit with the stalactites and features of the cave. But the 16,000 year old... more »
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This is a wonderful and unique site to see the prehistoric cave paintings from 25,000 years ago. Good acces- guided tour through nearly 1 mile of spectacular caves and a rare opportunity to get right.... more »
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Brilliant show cave, the wall art is stunning!! Some incredible formations the cave pearls were a particular highlight!!!
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One of the most spectacular places in the world. Breathtaking paleolithic art, dramatic authentic cave landscapes, knowledgeable tour guides. I loved the fact that we were not crammed in to this world-class site with hundreds of other visitors, but just a small cohort of pre-registered visitors. This place changes your perspective on what it means to be human!
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