Camping near the Chauvet 2 cave, in Ardèche.

The Chauvet 2 cave or the Pont d'Arc cave.

December 18, 1994..

It is a Sunday. Equipped with lamps, Jean-Marie Chauvet, Éliette Brunel and Christian Hillaire decide to enter the narrow passage discovered a few months earlier. The trio crawls meter after meter. The progression is difficult. The three cavers get stuck several times before reaching the ceiling of a large gallery. This winter expedition will change the course of their lives. It is Éliette who discovers the first drawing on the walls: two small lines in red ochre. The trio goes from discovery to discovery. In the beam of their lamp appear representations of cave lions, woolly rhinoceroses, mammoths, bears, megaceroses, owls, horses... and animated frescoes! He decided, with the agreement of the Ministry of Culture, to give the name "Chauvet" to the cave. Éliette and Christian are not forgotten since two large rooms of the cave are named "Salle Brunel" and "Salle Hillaire".

The vent of the Combe d'Estre

The Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave is located in the combe d'Estre, near the Pont d'Arc and the Ardèche river. In prehistoric times, the entrance of the cave was 8m high and 15m wide. Located in the middle of the cliff, at about 100 meters from the ground, it was visible from far. If the drawings of the cave were so well preserved, it is thanks to the collapse of the upper cliff, 22 000 years ago, which definitively blocked its access. Without the discovery of a vent in the heart of the cliff, the cave and its treasures would probably never have been discovered. The temperature in the caves is constant, summer and winter: 13° C. In winter, when temperatures are negative, cavers look for warm air currents or vents, proof of the existence of large underground galleries behind the rock. And this is the case for the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave.

A global shock

The discovery of the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave is a worldwide event. In France and in the world, Lascaux in Dordogne was the reference cave. However, as much time has passed between our time and Lascaux (18,000 years) as between Lascaux and Chauvet whose drawings are dated 36,000 years ago! In addition to its age, the decorated cave of the Ardèche is distinguished from other caves by the beauty of the drawings or engravings, the remarkable technical mastery of the artists, and its incredible bestiary with 14 animals represented, most of which are dangerous mammals. For example, there is the largest concentration of felines (80) and rhinoceroses (72) in the world. Finally, the animal frescoes drawn on the rock tell stories and can be considered as the beginnings of cartoons or comic books!

The unesco world heritage site

The Great Wall of China. The pyramids of Egypt. The archaeological site of Olympia in Greece. The Taj Mahal in India. The Mont Saint Michel. Easter Island and its giant statues in Chile... and the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave. Since June 22, 2014, the jewel of the ardéchois cave art is registered on the Unesco World Heritage List. With this recognition, the cave has entered the Pantheon of universal heritage and confirms its status as an artistic masterpiece and unique testimony to the history of humanity.The cave was closed to the public upon its discovery to avoid any degradation, hence the decision to create the Caverne du Pont-d'Arc to allow everyone to enjoy it without risk!
The Caverne du Pont d'Arc is open every day, all year long, and is located near the campsite Les Truffiéres, which is open all year long!

https://grottechauvet2ardeche.tickeasy.com/fr-FR/accueil

Les Truffières campsite in Ardèche and the Chauvet 2 cave are two must-see sites for nature and history lovers. Located in the south of France, in the Ardèche, Les Truffières campsite is an ideal place for outdoor vacations. Surrounded by forests, mountains and rivers, this campsite offers a peaceful and tranquil setting for vacationers seeking relaxation and nature. The campground offers pitches for tents, caravans and motor homes, as well as rental accommodations such as chalets and mobile homes for families or groups.

In addition to outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, fishing and swimming, vacationers can also discover the local culture and traditions by visiting the surrounding villages and sampling the local cuisine.

The Chauvet 2 cave, located near the campground, is another attraction not to be missed. This cave is famous for its 36,000 year old cave paintings, considered to be the oldest in the world. Visitors can explore the cave on a guided tour and learn about the history and culture of this archaeological wonder.

In conclusion, Les Truffières campsite in the Ardèche and the Chauvet 2 cave are ideal destinations for nature and history lovers. With its many activities and attractions, this corner of France offers an unforgettable stay for vacationers of all ages.

Address of the Chauvet 2 cave : Route de Vallon-Pont d'Arc 07140 Vallon-Pont-d'Arc

Phone number : 04 75 88 76 76

contact@chauvet2.fr

Opening hours of the Caverne du Pont d'Arc

January: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
February / March : 10am - 6pm
April / May / June: 10am - 7pm
July / August: 9am - 8:30pm
September: 10am - 7pm
October / November (until the 14th): 10am - 6pm
November (from the 15th) / December: 10am - 5pm

All information on http://www.cavernedupontdarc.fr/