The cave of a hundred mammoths
The nickname is almost modest: the walls carry about one hundred and sixty mammoths, among more than two hundred and fifty figures that also include bison, woolly rhinoceros, horses, ibex and serpentine lines. The mammoths are all the more striking because their bones are rare in the South-West, a sign that these images owe as much to memory and symbol as to direct observation.
A giant cavity and its electric train
The network is immense: more than eight kilometres of galleries, making Rouffignac one of the largest decorated caves in Europe. You see a good part of it from a little electric train, in service since 1959 and unique in France for a decorated cave. It carries visitors into the heart of the network, as far as the famous Great Ceiling.
Magdalenian art
The figures, drawn in black line or engraved, date from the Magdalenian, about 13,000 years ago. The highlight is the Great Ceiling, where around sixty animals intertwine above the visitors' heads. The cave also keeps many traces of cave bears, claw marks on the walls and hollows dug in the floor, which predate any human visit.
What the tour is like
The ride is a guided journey in itself: the train takes you deep underground, past the engravings and drawings, before arriving under the Great Ceiling. Because the train does not stop for exits, take care of everything before you board, and remember that the cave runs for kilometres underground. The tour lasts about an hour, and the figures you pass are the work of Magdalenian Homo sapiens, who left black line drawings and engravings across the galleries.
Planning your visit
The tour is guided and made aboard the train, with no exit before the end of the route. Places are limited, and booking is strongly advised, especially in July and August. The visit is not well suited to children under 3. For more caves in the area, see the Vézère valley weekend, or compare with Font-de-Gaume and the guide to painted caves.
Practical information was checked in October 2026: please confirm opening times and book on the official website before your visit.