Rouffignac cave

Welcome to the Rouffignac cave.

Located in the commune of Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin in Périgord Noir, Rouffignac cave formerly known as the "Cro de Granville", is one of the largest in the region, with almost 8 kilometers of gallery.

Vast, too, in terms of the size of some of the corridors, which can be dozens of metres high or over a dozen metres wide. Spread over 3 levels, the galleries were carved out of Cretaceous limestone by an underground river that dried up 2 or 3 million years ago.

The first bears in Rouffignac cave

The Rouffignac cave was first frequented by bears, of which there are numerous traces. In some of the galleries, countless claw marks can be seen on the walls, as well as bauges - rounded, hollow areas on the ground in the clay zones where bears huddled in winter to hibernate in thermally stable conditions.

Surprisingly few bones have been found. The bear species that frequented the area became extinct long before the visit of the first prehistoric man.

Magdalenian artists:

The Magdalenian period is the last phase of the European Upper Paleolithic, from around 17,000 to 12,000 years BC. It was during this period that prehistoric artists came to Rouffignac cave to practise their art. Two techniques are present: engraving and black line drawing.
Here you'll find a bestiary comprising several hundred individuals. The mammoth is king here, with no fewer than 158 mammoths depicted on the walls and ceilings, which is astonishing given the rarity of mammoth bones in south-west France.

Among these figures you can contemplate "the engraving of the patriarch", which represents an elderly individual in view of his enormous tusks, as well as "the frieze of the 10 mammoths", painted in black line.

Mammoths are the central theme, with a host of ibex, rhinoceros, horses and bison.

A visit to the Rouffignac cave

The presence of prehistoric art makes the environment fragile. It is not possible to light the cave all the time.
This is why the cave is visited on board a small electric train, which is responsible for transporting the public and providing lighting.
For one hour, the little train allows visitors to experience the impressive character of the site and discover its prehistoric art, without fatigue or danger to conservation, while enjoying a genuine lecture tour.
This layout was installed in 1959.

Practical information

•  Visits to the Rouffignac cave are subject to quotas, and the number of visitors the cave can accommodate each day is limited. Tickets are available at the cave entrance, no internet or telephone reservations are possible. However, we strongly advise you to contact the cave to find out about the availability of the visit. The operation is explained in detail in the "opening dates and times" section below.
•  There's also a souvenir store with a prehistory bookshop.
•  Outside, in an unspoilt natural setting, you can enjoy a shaded picnic area and numerous walking trails.
•  A cave is an authentic environment, cold, dark and damp. The visit lasts 1 hour, and the use of the electric train is synonymous with immobility. Bring warm clothing.
•  For conservation reasons, pets are not allowed.