Caves of Cougnac Caves of Cougnac Caves of Cougnac Caves of Cougnac Caves of Cougnac

Caves of Cougnac

Caves of cougnac : authentic prehistoric drawings in the middle of concretions

Welcome to the Caves of Cougnac

The Cougnac Caves is made up of 2 caves 200m apart.

The first cave was discovered in 1949. It contains a very rich density of concretions: a frozen rain of thousands of stalactites falling from the ceiling and draperies.

Three years later in 1952, a few dozen metres from the first cave, Lucien Gouloumes, René Borne, Jean Mazet, Roger, Maurice Boudet and Alphonse Sauvant discovered a second cave.

This time, alongside the concretions, various traces left by our Upper Paleolithic ancestors appear in alcoves. The decorated cave has been classified Historic Monument in 1954.

Prehistoric men cleared away the concretions before starting their work as artists. They used the relief of the walls of the cave to restore the volume of animal figures: large deer (megaceros), ibexes, mammoths but also human figures (wounded men). There are also traces of the use of lithophones (musical concretions).

The first figures of the parietal decorations have been dated Carbon 14 30,000 years ago (Gravettien), and the most recent at 14,000 years ago (Magdalenian). They are thus among the oldest figurative drawings, open to the public.

The guided tour of the Cougnac caves gives you a better understanding of how the artists who expressed themselves here interacted with the cave walls!

Practical information

  • Duration of the visit : 1H
  • Temperature inside the caves of Cougnac : 13°C
  • Reservation only for groups (20 people).
  • Photos/videos are possible in the mineral cave and prohibited in the prehistoric cave.
  • Animals are not allowed.
  • The Cougnac caves are not accessible to people with reduced mobility.
  • Shop with cards, souvenirs

Tariff details

adult : 9,50 €.

children from 5 to 12 years old : 6,50 €.

Adult group (minimum 20 people): 7.50 € (per person)

Children's group up to 11 years old (minimum 20 children): € 6.00 (per child)

Reduced rate: €8.00

Rate "Special Visit": duration 1 hour 20 by appointment - 12 € per person

(minimum 10 paying persons for the special visit)

Price "Private Visit": from 1 to 10 people: 150 €.

For more than 10 people, 15 € more per person.

Dates and Times

open from spring holidays to the end of the all Saints' day holidays

from spring holidays to 10 July: from 10.00 am to 11.30 am and from 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm

from July 11th to August 25th : from 10.00 am to 5.45 pm

from 26 August to 30 September: from 10.00 am to 11.30 am and from 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm

from 1 October to the end of the All Saints' Day holidays: from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm (closed on Sundays)

Spoken languages

 

Address:

Grottes de Cougnac, 46300 Payrignac
Online booking

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