Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The cave of Saint-Cirq, also known as the Cave of the Sorcerer, was discovered in 1952 by Noël Brousse, owner of the site, who invited prehistorian Bernard Mortureux and his wife to explore the cavity. They identified deep engravings of equidae and a bison carved in bas-relief. The following year, Abbé André Glory and André Leroi-Gourhan continued their studies, revealing an artistic ensemble dating from the Solutrean and Magdalenian, including animals (bisons, horses, bouquetins), geometric signs and a human silhouette nicknamed the Sorcerer by Glory.

Ranked a historic monument in 1958 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 among the prehistoric sites of the Vézère valley, the cave was the subject of new research from 2010 by Romain Pigeaud, Florian Berrouet and Estelle Bougard. In 2023, the owner Jean-Max Touron put the site on sale, before its takeover by the state in November 2024. Since then, the cave has been closed to the public for an indefinite period, after decades of controlled opening to preserve its works.

The cave is distinguished by its entrance porch adorned with deep engravings, including the figure of the Sorcerer — a male figure with bent legs, framed by a buffalo head and a horse foretrain. This site, considered a Magdalenian sanctuary, delivered movable objects and illustrated European parietal art. Its conservation, initially ensured by a visitor limitation, is now managed by the Ministry of Culture.

The name cave of the Sorcerer comes from the stylized human representation, interpreted as a shamanic or mythological figure. Recent studies highlight its importance in the area's adorned cave network, alongside other major sites such as Lascaux or Les Eyzies. Its acquisition by the state in 2024 marks a turning point in its heritage management, with the aim of sustaining its protection and scientific study.

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