The Combarelles Cave

The Grotte des Combarelles is less than three kilometers from Font-de-Gaume.

The site has very well-known engravings published in several prehistory books. I can't wait to have them in front of me. Once again, for the proper preservation of the cavity, bags are prohibited ! See you later, backpack, I'll tell you ! Photos are also prohibited !

I enter the cavity, it is quite dark but it immerses me in this very special atmosphere that shelters or caves have. The ceiling is not very high and the walls very close to me which allows me to admire them well.

I walk for a while in the cavity following the guide, she explains to me that there are more than 600 engravings listed in the cave with 100 lines per square meter !

The first engravings appear with horses and bison. The particularity of Combarelles is the large number of human representations. I see a head as well as female representations . Some are very well preserved and the guide manages the lighting very well, allowing me to delineate the contours of each figure! Some are painted and I can see traces of paint sometimes covered with calcite! The cave must have been sublime several thousand years ago!!!

What I really appreciate at Combarelles is the diversity of the engraved bestiary : mammoth, deer, doe, humans, lions, a cow, a bear and even a donkey !! Some engravings are animated, the shadow plays are created by the guide who knows her subject very well. She presents the different archaeological theories concerning the engravings and tells me about these prehistoric cultures who created this art !

Prehistoric men once again used relief to trace the contours of animals and they sometimes created two in one : a cow and a mammoth have the same hindquarters ! I would like to have their talent, the representations are made with such realism that the animal jumps out at me once I face it !

I arrive at the bottom of the shelter and I have to turn around, watch out for your head in certain turns !! Before leaving, I see an archeology student who is doing traceology studies on several other engravings in the cave. His analyzes and discoveries may be included in visits in years to come, who knows !

I spent 40-45 minutes inside a giant canvas ! The visit is pleasant and the themes varied. Combarelles is a one-of-a-kind cave that deserves to have company and applause performances !

Find more information on the site.