We will be staying in Carcassone for 2 weeks in October and will have a rental car. I've seen articles on dozens of caves, swallow holes, ancient stone monuments, etc. We would like to visit a few of these. Does anyone have specific recommendations? Thank you!
Posted by
Texan in CA
4407 posts
Just sayin' hi ;-)
Posted by
Portland
3602 posts
Some of these will be a long drive; however, they are worth it. You might even stay over a night just in order to experience them. For caves with prehistoric art: Niaux, Peche Merle, Font de Gaume. For an astoundingly enormous cave system with no art: Gouffre de Padirac. You might want to make reservations, especially for Niaux - - only 20 people allowed in at a time and only a few tours/day, probably one in English. Most of the important caves have websites, where you can find out more and make reservations.
Posted by
OP
Hanover, MA, USA
3 posts
Bets and Rosalyn, Thank you for your information. I will get busy checking out websites and "Paris Mysterieuse".
Posted by
OP
Hanover, MA, USA
3 posts
Bets, Thank you again for your help! Eileen
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
You turkeys don't know squat about stones. :) Look at the France section of this: http://www.megalithic.co.uk/topics.php?countries=1.If you work your way back to the home page, go ahead and sign up since you can get more detailed information. They don't spread your email address around, they don't bug you, it's free. I've been using it for years and never received nuffin.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Eileen: Sounds like you've already done your homework. But maybe this helps: a big area of limestone, with the caves you'd expect to find in an area of limestone, is about 3 hours drive north of Carcassonne. For example, Aven Armand, http://www.aven-armand.com/index2-eng.html. Maybe too far for a comfortable day trip, but perhaps worth an overnight somewhere north of Carcassonne?
Posted by
haddon heights, nj, usa
80 posts
We seek out dolmens and menhirs whenever in France! The Michelin driving atlas/regional maps have both marked as "prehistoric monuments". As previously mentioned, some are in the middle of cow pastures or forests and you have to drive on dirt roads or cow paths. Others are right on the side of the road. There are several near Carcassone and the surrounding areas. Have fun!