Grotte Chauvet 2 – Ardèche

Tourist attractions

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Discover mankind's first great masterpiece, dating back 36,000 years. Set in a 15-hectare wooded park, Grotte Chauvet 2 - Ardèche, the world's largest replica of a cave, recreates the magic of the UNESCO-listed Chauvet cave.

36,000 years ago, in a deep cave, the first artists in the history of mankind painted a masterpiece: horses, lions, rhinoceroses and many other animals captured on film, hunting, running or fighting. Discovered in 1994, the Chauvet cave, which revolutionized the history of art and mentalities, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its replica, Grotte Chauvet 2 - Ardèche, opened in 2015, now allows the public to discover mankind's first great masterpiece. An unmissable cultural destination just a stone's throw from the Ardèche Gorges and Pont-d'Arc, it has established itself as the most visited cultural site in the Ardèche. A visit to the cave invites you on a journey to the origins of art, an immersion in prehistory. Other discoveries await you on site, such as the Galerie de l'Aurignacien, which completes the visit to the replica and provides a better understanding of our ancestors, their art and their environment, in an immersive and interactive scenography. The large exhibition and showroom is currently presenting "Animal, from prehistory to street art", an immersive experience with 360° sound and light. An enchanting show with a universal language, an invitation to move through the heart of a monumental fresco, animated and enhanced by an original musical composition! Throughout the year, a program of cultural events, conferences, workshops and activities enables visitors to extend the experience and rediscover the age-old gestures of our ancestors. Admission includes a guided tour of the cave, access to the Galerie de l'Aurignacien, the show "Animal, de la Préhistoire au street art", and workshops during vacations and weekends from April to October. Take advantage of the restaurant and its panoramic view, open all year round, as well as the bookshop-boutique with over 1,000 items.
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Home supplement

To appreciate this visit, children must be aged 3 or above Wheelchairs are available on request at reception and at the entrance to the cave

Spoken languages

  • German
  • English
  • French
  • Dutch

Labels and rankings

  • Famille Plus
  • "Accueil Vélo" : Cyclists Welcome label
  • Hearing disability
  • Mental disability
  • Physical disability
  • Visual disability

Sort

  • Museum

Themes

  • Anthropology
  • Arts and culture
  • Sacred art
  • Fine Arts
  • Painting
  • Sciences and technology
  • Archeological
  • History
  • Prehistoric

Opening

From 03/11 to 19/12/2025 daily between 10.30 am and 5.30 pm.

From 20/12/2025 to 04/01/2026 daily between 10.30 am and 7 pm.

From 05/01 to 16/01/2026 closed daily.

From 17/01 to 06/02/2026 daily between 10.30 am and 5.30 pm.

From 07/02 to 08/03/2026 daily between 9.30 am and 6.30 pm.

From 09/03 to 03/04/2026 daily between 9.30 am and 6 pm.

From 04/04 to 03/05/2026 daily between 9 am and 7.30 pm.

From 04/05 to 03/07/2026 daily between 9 am and 7 pm.

From 04/07 to 31/08/2026 daily between 8.30 am and 8.30 pm.

From 01/09 to 30/09/2026 daily between 9 am and 7 pm.

From 01/10 to 16/10/2026 daily between 9.30 am and 6 pm.

From 17/10 to 01/11/2026 daily between 9.30 am and 7.30 pm.

From 02/11 to 18/12/2026 daily between 10.30 am and 5.30 pm.

Benefits

Services provided

  • Pets welcome
  • Educational visits
  • Coach access
  • Motorhomes allowed
  • Room hire
  • Booking obligatory
  • Themed tour
  • Shop
  • Set down on-site for groups
  • Equipment loan
  • Tourist brochures
  • Restaurant
  • Guided tours
  • Fast food
  • Spot photo
  • Checkroom
  • Ticketing in number

Equipment

  • Picnic area
  • Bar
  • Toilets
  • Public WC
  • Air conditioning
  • Exhibition space
  • Car park
  • Orientation board
  • Defibrillator
  • Restaurant
  • Entertainments room
  • Film room
  • Meeting room
  • Coach parking
  • Private parking
  • Free car park
  • Bicycle parking

Prices

Full price: 18 € Reduced price: 9 €. Free entry for children under 10. Group rate available for 20 people or more.

Means of payment

  • Check
  • Cash
  • Bank/credit card
  • Pass’Région
  • Travellers Cheque

Capacity

  • Maximum group size: 28
  • Minimum group size : 20

Activities

  • Activity
  • Children's entertainment
  • Temporary exhibition
  • Handicrafts workshops

Access

Environment

  • In the country
  • Mountain view
  • Isolated
  • Close to GR footpath