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A "companion" cave to Font de Gaume, as it is geographically close ( 1 / 4 mile) and administered jointly. Nevertheless the Combarelles Cave is quite different, as it has no wall paintings, only engravings. It is thought the paintings were washed away. The cave is more of a narrow tunnel, winding 200 metres into the hillside and is covered by about 600 engravings, mostly animals - reindeer, rhinoceros, mammoths, bears. The engravings are not easy to decipher for the amateur, but the guides are
[more]A "companion" cave to Font de Gaume, as it is geographically close ( 1 / 4 mile) and administered jointly. Nevertheless the Combarelles Cave is quite different, as it has no wall paintings, only engravings. It is thought the paintings were washed away. The cave is more of a narrow tunnel, winding 200 metres into the hillside and is covered by about 600 engravings, mostly animals - reindeer, rhinoceros, mammoths, bears. The engravings are not easy to decipher for the amateur, but the guides are expert in pointing out the images and positioning torches to the best effect.
Although narrow and winding, the tunnel is well laid out and flat, with non-slip matting underfoot. Booking ahead is essential as daily visitor numbers are restricted and the shape of the cave does not allow for large groups.
Open daily from 09h30, except on Saturdays and the following dates: 1 January, 1May, 1 & 11 November and 25 December.
The prehistoric sites and painted caves of the Vézère valley are now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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