Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The caves of Cugnac, located on the town of Payrignac in Occitanie, consist of two cavities 200 meters distant. The first, known for its geological concretions, some of which are fistular, offers a remarkable natural spectacle. The second is a cave decorated with the Upper Paleolithic, classified as a historical monument in 1954, with exceptional prehistoric paintings.

The caves were discovered between 1949 and 1952, thanks to Lucien Gouloumes, René Borne, Jean Mazet, Roger Boudet, Maurice Boudet and Alphonse Sauvant, after a period of drought. Since then, the site has been accessible to the public and attracts approximately 25,000 visitors annually. The paintings, studied by Michel Lorblanchet, represent animals such as megaceros deer, ibex and mammoths, as well as schematic human figures.

Carbon 14 dating revealed two distinct phases of artistic creation: lone around 25,000 years (Gravetien), corresponding to animal representations, and the other around 14,000 years (Magdalenian), associated with punctuations. Lithophones, prehistoric musical instruments, were also attested. These caves also served as a setting for films, such as Claude Chabrol's Le Boucher (1970) and Georges Lautner's A few too quiet gentlemen (1973).

The caves of Cugnac are a major testimony of prehistoric parietal art, comparable to that of the Pech Merle cave. Their study was the subject of several publications, notably by Michel Lorblanchet, who analysed in detail the techniques and themes of the paintings. The site remains an active research site and a tourist and cultural point of interest in Quercy.

The adorned cave, classified as a historical monument since 1954, is protected for its painted walls, located on cadastral plots B 716 and 796. Its access is regulated to preserve works, while allowing the public to discover this unique heritage, illustrating the lives and beliefs of prehistoric men.

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