Font-de-Gaume
The Grotte de Font de Gaume is found just 1 km from Les Eyzies, in the valley of the river Beune. The system was rediscovered in September 1901.
The entrance to the grotte sits at the bottom of a large limestone cliff. The grotte itself , and contains numerous colourful paintings dating from the Magdalenien period.
Of more than 200 paintings in total at the Grotte de Font de Gaume (there are also some engravings), the majority are of bison. . Mammoths, horses and reindeer are also represented, along with various other animals. The cave was settled about 25,000 years ago, during the Ice Age, when animals such as mammoths and reindeer were common in the area.
The painters have skillfully used the shape of the rock, and shadings of paint colour, to add vitality and a three-dimensional look to their paintings. Unfortunately only a small part of the total can be viewed by the public.
But this simple description is to undersell the experience of a visit to these caves - the paintings really are extraordinary in their perfection and colour, and a visit is highly recommended. You really do feel a bond with the artists who decorated these caves so long ago, with only the dimmest light and a handful of painting materials to work with.
Interestingly, large quantities of painting pigments and materials have also been discovered, suggesting that the painting was approached in quite a professional manner.
Only 200 visitors per day are granted access to the caves, to help protect them.
Visit Font-de-Gaume (Aquitaine, Dordogne) travel, gites and hotels
Best Prices on Hotels in Font-de-Gaume - Guaranteed
(see guarantee details) Reserve online, pay at the hotel
The Font-de-Gaume hotels listed feature descriptions, guest reviews, ratings, location maps, online booking etc. as well as the 'best-price' guarantee. The search for hotels in Font-de-Gaume is provided by booking.com. General holiday / vacation options- See Dordogne gites for Font-de-Gaume holiday rentals - Holiday villages in Aquitaine Holidays nearbyLooking for something close by? See a wide choice of hotels, holiday villages and holiday rentals at: Places to Stay near Font-de-Gaume VisitSee Visit Font-de-Gaume for places to visit near Font-de-Gaume including: a detailed map, villages in bloom and most beautiful villages DiscussAsk questions or leave a comment about Font-de-Gaume in our Aquitaine forum Airports near Font-de-GaumeAngouleme airport at 125 km Bergerac airport at 57 km Limoges airport at 103 km Font-de-Gaume property for saleSee Aquitaine property for sale
|
|
||||||||||||
Tourist Classifications for Font-de-Gaume
- Listed UNESCO World Heritage Site
Places to visit near Font-de-Gaume, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Font-de-Gaume.
Some places to visit within 30 km: 
18 km: Belves (Most beautiful village) 16 km: Beynac (Most beautiful village) 22 km: Cadouin (abbey village) 17 km: Chateau de Beynac (castle) 17 km: Chateau de Castelnaud (castle) 2 km: Chateau de Commarque (castle) 28 km: Chateau de Montfort (castle) 19 km: Chateau des Milandes (castle) 25 km: Domme (Most beautiful village) 21 km: La Roque-Gageac (Most beautiful village) 7 km: La-Roque-Saint-Christophe (World Heritage Site) 20 km: Lascaux caves (Renowned cave paintings) 11 km: Le Bugue (town) 1 km: Les Eyzies (Prehistory Centre) 16 km: Limeuil (Most beautiful village) 26 km: Molieres (Bastide town) 21 km: Montignac (Town) 28 km: Saint-Amand-de-Coly (Most beautiful village) 7 km: Saint-Cyprien (attractive town) 10 km: Saint-Leon-sur-Vezere (Most beautiful village) 21 km: Sarlat (Renowned town) 23 km: Tremolat (Renowned viewpoint) 1 km: Vezere Valley (World Heritage Site)
See also Font-de-Gaume (version Francais)
