Prehistory you can visit
France holds one of the richest prehistoric heritages in the world: painted caves, rock shelters, museums and megalithic sites, some of them visited by people for more than a century. l'épopée sapiens is a French website that tells the story of human prehistory for the general public, from our earliest ancestors to the first farmers. Most of the site is in French; these English pages are written for visitors preparing a trip.
Start with the painted caves
Our guide to the painted caves you can visit in France explains which original caves are open to the public, which ones can only be seen through faithful replicas, and how to book. Then go deeper with Lascaux, Font-de-Gaume, Niaux, Pech Merle, Chauvet 2 or Cosquer.
Museums and sites
In the Vézère valley, the National Museum of Prehistory in Les Eyzies is the natural starting point. Further south, the Tautavel Museum of Prehistory tells the story of some of the oldest people known in France, and in Brittany the Carnac stones are among the most famous megalithic sites in Europe.
Ready-made weekends
To plan your days, follow one of our itineraries: a prehistory weekend in the Vézère valley, two days in the Ardèche, two days in the Ariège Pyrenees or the Quercy around Pech Merle.
Opening times and prices change from season to season: always check the official website of each site and book ahead, especially in summer.