Want to get back to basics? Well, you won’t find much better. Even though this year we’ve had our heart set on the Basilique de Vézelay, the Abbaye de Fontenay and Cluny,the primitive beauty of what you can admire in the recreation of this cave literally leaps off the page. Not bad, considering the brushstrokes date back 36,000 years. The most powerful time machine on the planet awaits you just 2h30 from Lyon.
Grotte Chauvet, mankind’s 1st great masterpiece
36,000 years old. What’s that supposed to mean? You could say that it’s 360 centuries, or that it’s 18 times longer than the time separating us from the birth of Jesus. In short, as you can see, that’s quite a lot of time on the posterity scale. Twice as old as the famous Lascaux caves, the Chauvet caves offer an even more radical experience.
It was (only) in 1994 that this treasure trove was discovered by a trio of French speleologists. After a long search, Jean-Marie Chauvet and his companions entered a cavity that had never been trodden before. Closed to humans and animals by a landslide over 21,000 years old, the cave was preserved intact, offering a unique sight for the three researchers. The site, renamed Grotte Chauvet, is home to an exceptional collection of works of art, unique in its age, scale and multiple pictorial qualities. There is simply no equivalent in the world.
The world’s largest reconstruction of a painted cave
As with Tutankhamen‘s tomb, access to the original site is strictly forbidden to the public. Rest assured, however, that a tremendous amount of work has been done to enable everyone to walk in the footsteps of our ancestors. Indeed, the cave before us is so realistic it’s hard to resist. Quite simply, it’s the world’s largest reconstruction of an ornate cave.
Rhinoceroses, lions, bears, horses, mammoths, bison, panthers… . The animals are painted and literally appear to be in motion. Depth, perspective, shadow play: the pictorial techniques had already been mastered to perfection. The highlight of the show is the monumental 12-metre-long fresco depicting over 90 animals: not even Noah’s Ark could do better.
The Grotte Chauvet: a UNESCO World Heritage Site
If the caves are the main attraction, let’s not forget that they’re housed in a 15-hectare wooded site that’s packed with activities of all kinds. The Galerie de l’Aurignacien offers a complementary discovery over 650 m2 of exhibition space, juggling immersive scenography and fun workshops for the whole family. A multi-purpose hall is also open, allowing visitors to enjoy temporary exhibitions and shows. Add to this a wooded park in the heart of the Ardèche with several panoramic viewpoints, including a breathtaking belvedere, and you have the perfect recipe for a day… out of time. The entire site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the oldest cultural asset ever to be classified.
For while the passage of time remains incompressible, it is nonetheless a major source of questioning. For example, what will the Mona Lisa look like 36,000 years from now? While we wish her the longest possible life, we can still imagine her looking a little tired… That’s why these cave paintings should make us question our place in the history of mankind.