The latest updated information on buying tickets for Font de Gaume.
Le Chèvrefeuille is a scenic 5-minute drive from the Vézère Valley’s number one tourist attraction, Font de Gaume.
This prehistoric cave is one of the few Paleolithic sites in the world still open to the public yet, due to increasing popularity, is becoming notoriously difficult to visit. To help protect the beautiful Paleolithic polychrome paintings and engravings of bison, horses, mammoths and reindeer, tickets are restricted to a limited quota of 6 groups a day of the maximum number of 13. Visits have also been reduced to include only the first chamber of images and for a reduced 30 min visit.
Font de Guame was closed for 18 months during 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. It has reopened to online reservation for the first time in its history and tickets are only available through the website https://tickets.monuments-nationaux.fr . Only the tickets unsold online will be available on the day at the ticket office. In addition, groups under 20 in number will also have to use this sytem to reserve.
This ticket system also includes the other “Centre des monuments nationaux” prehistoric sites owed by the goverment, L’abri de Cap-Blanc (sculpture) , La grotte des Combarelles (engravings) as well as La grotte de Font de Gaume (Paintings).
It is also useful to note that the entrance and start to the visit is a 800 metre pathway from the ticket office which is on an upwards trajectory so you need to bear this in mind if you have walking disabilities.
Further Font de Gaume ticket information 2022
Buying tickets on the day is no longer available unless the tickets have not already been sold online (you can check availability on the online reservation system). Tickets are now only available online and so early reservation is essential from May to October. There are the language option of French or English and you will need to be there 30 minutes prior to your tour time. Masks are obilgatory within the cave and a “Pass Sanitaire” is required to visit this site or equivalent.
Buying tickets to Font de Gaume on the day (No longer applies, see update)
There is allocated seating outside the ticket office, and each seat is numbered. If you arrive and all seats are taken, you have missed the ticket allocation for that day and will need to try again another day.
Ticket sales are limited to one ticket per person. Multiple ticket purchases are not allowed; therefore all members of your group who wish to visit Font de Gaume must be present at the ticket office at time of ticket purchase. You will have a language option of either French or English but the time of the tour will be designated by the ticket office.
Font de Gaume Ticket Office and Tours:
The ticket office is located at the base of the cave and opens for ticket sales at 9.30am. The street address is:
4 Avenue des Grottes, 24620, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
Font de Gaume official website is : http://www.sites-les-eyzies.fr
There are guided tours in English and French, with places on each tour subject to availability.
To beat the queue and have a greater chance of getting a ticket, we highly recommend arriving at the allocated seating between 7.30am and 8am and waiting for the ticket office to open. (no longer applies since 2021)
FREE ENTRY to Font de Gaume on the first Sunday of the month between November and May.
Le Chevrefeuille
Award winning Le Chevrefeuille Chambres d’Hotes and Gites de Charme offers high quality bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation. Le Chevrefuille is owned and run by English couple Ian and Sara Fisk who live at the property with their children Adam and Alice.
Ian and Sara have renovated and decorated the B&B and self-catering accommodation to an exceptionally high standard. Their care, attention to detail and desire to make all guests feel at home has led them to win Tripadvisor’s Certificate of Excellence every year since 2008.
In addition to offering the best accommodation in the region, CookDordogne at Le Chevrefeuille offers cookery courses and guided market visits in English .
The marked success of Le Chevrefeuille and CookDordogne at Le Chevrefeuille is evidenced by the positive reviews and ratings by guests on Tripadvisor, as well as by trusted travel guides, such as Rick Steves, The Rough Guide and The Mitchell Guide.
For further information on accommodation, cooking courses, Font de Gaume and other stunning sites of the Dordogne visit: www.lechevrefeuille.com
