A rare face-to-face meetingWith the art of early man
The first cave is an almost unreal setting. A mineral forest where the rock seems to be in motion. Thousands of stalactites, draperies as fine as lace, giant columns: here, time has taken its time. It’s raw, majestic and soothing.
But it’s in the second cavity that the heart races. A wall opens up… and suddenly, 30,000 years are staring back at us. Mammoths, ibexes, a megaceros – and even rare and disturbing human forms. It’s fragile, profound and deeply moving.
A tightropeBetween us and them
The guides, passionate and caring, tell the story with accuracy. They don’t recite: they share. What you see, what you guess, how it makes you feel.
The last human traces date back 18,000 to 20,000 years. And yet, faced with these works, we feel close. Connected. A thread stretched between them and us.
You don’t come out of there quite the same.
The caves are open from April to early November, with guided tours only. A responsible, respectful approach, essential to preserving this rare place.
Whether you’re with the family, friends or a curious solo visitor, Cougnac is not just another visit. It’s a moment suspended in time. An inner journey. A real slap in the face!
Caves of Cougnac
