Place to visit
Grand Roc cave, France: what it is and when to go
A rock shelter in the Vézère valley, near Les Eyzies, excavated since the 19th century. Its value lies in its stratigraphy: layers of occupation one above another that were used to put the cultures of the Upper Palaeolithic in order. You visit the site itself, not paintings. The best time to visit is March to October. In June there are 15 h 24 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 36. It has articles in 7 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.
In a nutshell
- What it is
- Show cave in France · Nature, History
- Local name
- Grotte du Grand Roc
- Where
- France
- Best time
- March to October.
- Nearest airport
- BOD Bordeaux, 136 km as the crow flies
- Protection
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Coordinates
- 44.94801, 0.99803
What you will see here
- The stratigraphic section with the occupation layers marked
- The shelter and the cliff that overhangs it
- The neighbouring sites in the same valley, a short distance away
- The National Museum of Prehistory in Les Eyzies, to put it all in context
It's a guided visit with no paintings: if you're after cave art, go to the caves in the same valley, not here.
What it is and where
Grand Roc cave is a show cave in France (Grotte du Grand Roc) (Le Bugue). It has articles in 7 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.
It is in Le Bugue, where this site lists 28 more places to see, 6.4 km from the centre.
Its coordinates are 44.94801, 0.99803; the nearest main airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD, Bordeaux), 136 km as the crow flies. How to get around France (train, car, bus) is covered in its country guide.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
- Protection
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
It is one of the Nature and History places in France. In Kokai it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.
When to go
The best time to visit Grand Roc cave is March to October.
In high season the sites of the Vézère valley draw big crowds; outside summer, access may be more restricted.
- JanPossible8:57
- FebPossible10:11
- MarBest time11:37
- AprBest time13:16
- MayBest time14:39
- JunBest time15:24
- JulBest time15:05
- AugBest time13:53
- SepBest time12:18
- OctBest time10:42
- NovPossible9:18
- DecPossible8:36
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 15 h 24 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 36. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.
| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | April to October | November to March |
| History | March to October | November to February |
It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Grand Roc cave has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and Kokai puts it in the right month for you.
When to go to France in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Before you go to France
To enter France there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in the France checklist. Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and E · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 15 ambulance (SAMU) · 17 police · 18 fire brigade.
In Kokai you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.
What is nearby
- Laugerie-BasseArchaeological site60 m
- Laugerie-HauteCave with prehistoric art451 m
- Abri du PoissonCave with prehistoric art455 m
- Grotte de l'Oreille d'EnferCave in France491 m
- Cro-Magnon rock shelterCave and archaeological site in France1.2 km
Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the France guide.
More in France: Nature
- Mont Blanc: highest mountain in the Alps
- Chartres Cathedral: medieval Catholic cathedral in Chartres, France
- Lascaux: cave in southwestern France famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings
- Chauvet Cave: cave in France
- Champ de Mars: large public green space in Paris, France
- Jardin du Luxembourg: urban park in Paris, France
Every France place under Nature, each with its season, is on its page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Grand Roc cave?
It is a show cave in France (Grotte du Grand Roc in the local language). It has articles in 7 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.
When is the best time to visit Grand Roc cave?
March to October. In June there are 15 h 24 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 36.
How do you get to Grand Roc cave?
The nearest main airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD), 136 km as the crow flies. From there, directions opens the route on the map, and how to get around France is explained in its country guide.
How do I add it to my trip?
With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the France map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.
What else is around here?
Nearby you have Laugerie-Basse, Laugerie-Haute, Abri du Poisson. The rest is in the France guide.
Keep reading
- Le Bugue28 places to see in and around Le Bugue, France: Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley, Cro-Magnon rock shelter, Font-de-Gaume. Best time: March to
- Nature5451 places for nature in France, from Mont Blanc to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: April to October. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- FranceBefore travelling to France: 6 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. For Spanish citizens, entry only takes an ID card (DNI).
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and from Wikidata, CC0. More about Grand Roc cave on Wikipedia. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.