I know that tour tickets in the Grotte de Font de Gaume cave are limited, and that most are allocated to tour groups. How can I register for one of those tour groups? I will be there in July, and I don't want to get up at 5 a.m. to stand in line for the few tickets available?
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L'Occitanie, France
10227 posts
Glad to see from Andrew's link that you can still reserve in advance. You need to call right away for any date in 2019. It's already February. You enter in a group limited to 12.
However, I did see two English-speaking local guides get their private clients in. We know because we specifically reserved a French tour in January for our date in May. But, along comes the private guide (whose book on cave objects I had read, incidentally) with a group of 5 private American clients. Not only did this push the group over 12, but also the Monuments Nationaux employée asked us and the others, who were German, if it would be okay if she gave the tour in English to accommodate the Americans. So for about 300 € a day, you can get the red carpet rolled out. Google for private English-speaking guide. We saw one man with his private clients, and also this woman, and you'll go to the museum and a couple of caves or rock shelters. I'm sure neither guide was on the phone in January for those tickets the way we were.
Posted by
271 posts
Yesterday, I sent an email asking about reserving tickets for October, since I had seen different things about whether reservations were still possible. This is the reply I received this morning:
Hello,
The good conservation of this prestigious site and the maintenance of its opening to the public are directly related to the number of visitors. It is therefore important, depending on weather conditions, to modulate the limitation.
Reservations for 2018 will no longer be effective.
We hope, by this information, to have answered your questions. We thank you for your kind understanding that contributes to the preservation of this exceptional cultural heritage.
Ticket sales will be at 9.30 am at the ticket office in Font de Gaume for each day, subject to availability
I had read that as of January 1, 2018, no reservations were taken, so it looks like other than finding a tour group, standing on line will be necessary.