Museum in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, Ardèche

Opening : From 01/01 to 31/12/2023
daily .

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Discover the first masterpiece of humanity from 36000 years ago: hundreds of hunting, running or fighting animals drawn from life.
In a 20 hectare park, the grotte Chauvet II - Ardèche (largest cave replica in the world) recreates the magic of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Chauvet cave.

When you come to the grotte Chauvet 2 - Ardèche, you’ll be moved as you discover humanity’s most ancient masterwork, just 36,000 years old.

In the midst of the stalagmites, stalactites and other outlandish concretions, the Cave unfurls its treasure of engravings, paintings and stumps in a space covering over 3,000 square metres. The visit follows the twists and turns of the cave’s morphology. So that visitors can understand all the cave’s wonders, guides take them through to the heart of the replica. Audio guides in French and in ten other languages are also provided free of charge. At the replica exit, specialists answer questions from the most curious of visitors.

After exploring the replica, visitors continue the immersion with the permanent exhibition. This exhibition introduces you to Palaeolithic people, their myths, and their world. Life-size animal replicas —such as mammoths, bears, lions, and rhinoceroses—also make this a time travel experience. The exhibition also has touch screen terminals and interactive devices that all kinds of visitors can enjoy.

There is a room specifically meant to take you behind the scenes of the project. It covers the challenges of restoration and the key stages of the replica construction.

After the visit, you can make the experience last longer on the restaurant terrace. The menu offers the flavours of Ardèche, and draws inspiration from prehistoric recipes: grilled meat and seasonal products will satisfy the appetite of present-day gourmet hunter-gatherers!

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