Advance Tickets 4 Font-de Gaume? - Nope, Non, Nada

When will you be there? I ended up visiting Pech Merle. Partly because of the uncertainty of getting a ticket and partly because Font de Gaume sounded like just a short walk in to see the paintings while Pech Merle sounded like a nice cave experience that also has paintings. I'm glad I went to Pech Merle, maybe on future trips I'll try Font de Gaume or Lascaux 4?

Hi Brad....I've picked up many tips from your travels in this area. We will be in the Dordogne Sept 15-20. I've reserved tickets for Lauscaux IV (aka International Center for Cave Art) for the English tour (these nonrefundable tickets can be purchased on line and the English tour 2xday are selling fast for the week). Depending on our interest for more cave art, we might go to Rouffinac, and Pech Merle is another option. We suspect that Lauscaux IV will give us a good overview and history. We don't feel a huge need at this point to visit all the caves or to see the original art; weather could drive what we do in the area.

Pech Merle is a beautiful cave but very limited in cave art. The spotted horses which are apparently authentic are beautiful and seen at a distance -- everything else is nothing much. It is a beautiful cave.

The Font du Gaume is the best 'real deal' experience -- the quality of the paintings although dimmed and blackened with time (they were not protected like Lascaux over the millenia) is extraordinary. It is worth what it takes to see. Roffignac is also the 'real deal' and while not as artistically realized as Lascaux and font du Gaume has lots of interesting drawings and of course the trip underground in the train is fun. They are line drawings.

We haven't seen Lascaux IV but saw II and have also seen the Chauvet cave replica in the Ardecche and both are wonderful recreations.

Thanks for posting this. This type of primary source communication is very helpful.

I have to admit that I prefer font du gaume to all others, with Niaux coming in a close 2nd. If I hadn't seen it in 2017 with reservations I would probably never opted to get their early to grab seats. But after seeing it I will definitely be there early the next time. I thought it was that good.

Matt

Yeah we were lucky enough to see the Font de Gaume twice and without much trouble a few years ago. It remains are favorite cave experience.

You mentioned in one of your other posts that you were also visiting Provence. Have you considered visiting the Chauvet Cave replica? It is about an hour west of Orange. I just booked tickets to visit there. It is supposed to be just as impressive as Lascaux IV.

Supposedly local guides and tour companies get the other 26 tickets. You might look online to see if any of them are offering tours that include a cave visit. It will be pricey, but at least you'll have a secure reservation for the day you are there.

@Cynthia...thank you for the mention of the Caverne du Pont d'Arc/Chauvet Cave exhibit. We are going to the Pont d'Arc and this could be a very nice addition!
@T....thank you for the suggestion but...I think we'll pass on the hassle of trying to coordinate with a tour. We're ok with it. Lascaux will likely give a lot of wonderful information/
@janetravels44...Thank you for your review of the caves.

The Chauvet cave replica is just gorgeous -- well worth getting to this out of the way part of the world. And the trip along the Arc river is incredibly scenic -- stop at every overlook. And the canoeing/kayaking in the river below the Pont d'Arc looks fun.