Le Parc de l'Art Préhistorique in Tarascon
and the Niaux cave drawings
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| The Prehistoric Art Park's outdoor installations show how caves are formed by water flowing over rock. | ||||||
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| The "Grand Atelier" of the Prehistoric Art Park contains replicas and photos of drawings and paintings found in other caves, many of which are no longer open to the public. Headsets are provided for narration in several languages. The drawings shown here are found in the Niaux cave (about a 15 minute drive from the park) in the Salon Noir, and have been recreated using laser technology (these are photos of the originals, not the replicas.) |  |
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| When you visit the Niaux cave (advance reservation required) you receive a coupon for a reduced admission to the Prehistoric Art Park. However, if you don't speak French it's worth visiting the park beforehand for the background information in English about the cave as there is practically none available on site. In the summer months there is one tour a day in English, at 1 pm. (tour times are given at the bottom of this page.)
Strictly speaking you must book ahead. However, outside the ticket office a sign indicates how many spaces are left (if any) in the day's scheduled tours. If you arrive in the morning you might be able to reserve a spot in a tour in the afternoon. But don't count on this in July and August. There are several other caves you can visit in the area, including the Grotte de la Vache on the opposite hill from the Niaux cave, and you'll find information on them here. |
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Be sure to wear sturdy shoes on the tour as the floor of the cave is wet, slippery and uneven.