Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The cave of Villars, also known as the prehistoric cave of the Cluzeau, was discovered in 1953 on the site of the Cluzeau, on the edge of the stream of Etang-Rompu, in the commune of Villars in Dordogne. It opens in oolithic limestones of the Lower Bajocian (Jurassique), offering an underground development of about 13,000 metres, extended since its initial discovery of 9,000 m in 2004.

From 1958, paleolithic paintings were discovered, made with manganese oxide, including the iconic small blue horse. Their style evokes that of the Lascaux and Roc-de-Sers caves, highlighting the artistic importance of the site. These discoveries motivated his classification as a historical monument in the same year.

The cave was opened to the public in 1959 and today attracts thousands of visitors, with 54,000 entries recorded in 2022. His interest lies as much in his archaeological heritage as in his geology, making it a major place for the understanding of parietal art and speleology in New Aquitaine.

Scientific research, such as that carried out by André Glory, Bernard Pierret, or Brigitte and Gilles Delluc, has helped to revise and enrich the knowledge of his prehistoric decoration and occupation. This work, published between 1960 and 2016, confirms its key role in the study of the Upper Paleolithic in Dordogne.

Future

Visits began in 1959.

External links