Grotte de Niaux

• Art age~14,000 years
• VisitGuided, small groups
• Temperature~12°C
• Time1 h 30

The Grotte de Niaux, near Tarascon-sur-Ariège, is one of the few decorated caves in France where you can still see the original paintings rather than a replica. In the Salon Noir, some 800 metres inside the mountain, Magdalenian artists painted bison, horses, ibex and deer around 14,000 years ago.

The visit

Visits are guided, in small groups, with hand-held lamps only, to protect the art. It's a walk of over a kilometre underground, on uneven ground, and the cave is cool all year.

Tips

• Book ahead: numbers are strictly limited, especially in summer.
• Bring a warm layer and sturdy shoes.
• The nearby Parc de la Préhistoire has replicas and workshops, good for children.
• The Grotte de Lombrives and Bédeilhac caves are also nearby.

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