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The experience
14,000 years of history before your eyes
In the footsteps of humanity's first artists
In the Ariège, the Niaux cave holds one of the finest collections of prehistoric paintings in Europe. Lamp in hand and accompanied by a guide, you walk deep under the mountain to the Salon Noir and its bison, horses and ibex painted nearly 14,000 years ago. These are the original paintings, not a replica.
At the Prehistory Park in Tarascon-sur-Ariège, you step into their shoes: lighting a fire, handling tools, painting with the techniques of our ancestors. In the evening, a brazier dinner at the château continues the adventure around the fire.
Bison painted in the Niaux cave · Photo: HTO, Domaine public
Programme
Your day, hour by hour
8 am
8 am
Departure from the château
Departure by van with your driver and guide, heading for the Ariège Pyrenees.
9 am
9 am
Niaux cave
Guided tour of the cave and its original cave paintings.
11 am
11 am
Prehistory Park
Meet the Cro-Magnons: handle tools, light a fire and paint with ancestral techniques. Lunch on site.
4 pm
4 pm
Back to the château
Drive back through the Ariège landscapes.
5 pm
5 pm
Arrival and free time
Park, spa or rest before the evening.
7:30 pm
7:30 pm
Aperitif at the bar
Champagne and gougères.
8:30 pm
8:30 pm
Brazier dinner
Fire-grilled meats, in the park or inside depending on the weather.
Next morning
Next morning
Night and breakfast
Night at the château and breakfast buffet.
Times are indicative and adjusted to your group and the conditions on the day.
In pictures
The places you will visit
The entrance to the Niaux cave
Photo: Pinpin, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Niaux valley, in the Ariège
Photo: Thilo Parg, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Prehistory Park in Tarascon-sur-Ariège
Photo: Babsy, CC BY-SA 3.0
The park's prehistoric camp
Photo: Tylwyth Eldar, CC BY-SA 4.0Evening at the château
Drinks and dinner
Aperitif
Champagne and gougères, at the château bar.
The menu
- Brazier dinner
- Wood-fire grilled meats
The wines
South-West wines
Practical
Good to know
- The cave is cool all year round (around 12 °C): bring a warm jacket and closed shoes.
- Photography is not allowed in the cave, to preserve the paintings.
- Niaux is visited in small groups and books up well in advance: we take care of it for you.
- Available during the opening periods of the Prehistory Park.
Booking
Book this day
Tell us your preferred date and the number of participants: we will contact you within 24 hours to confirm availability and finalise your programme.
See also
Our other discovery days
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