UNESCO World Heritage SiteUNESCO Heritage
France

Caves of Gargas

Upper Paleolithic cave art site in the French Pyrenees

Location

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Historical Context

About

The Caves of Gargas (French: Grottes de Gargas, French pronunciation: [ɡʁɔt də ɡaʁɡas]) in the Pyrenees region of France are known for their cave art from the Upper Paleolithic period - about 27,000 years old. The caves are open to the public.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history

Gravettian occupation (radiocarbon)

c. 27,000 BP

Scientific exploration begins

19th century

Hand-print discovery

1906

National classification

1910

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Artistic and Decorative Features

Cave PaintingsPetroglyphs
category

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Caves
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Modified CavesRock Shelters
Knowledge Base

Frequently Asked Questions

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Plan Your Visit

Tours, travel arrangements, and practical information

Reference

Details

Country

France

Coordinates

43.06° N, 0.54° E