Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The caves of Sare, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in Sare, New Aquitaine, constitute a major speleological site occupied since the Prehistory. The oldest remains, stone tools such as scrapers, date back to at least 45,000 years (Moustarian period), followed by artifacts from Gravettien (25 000 years) and Magdalen (13 000 years). These prehistoric men hunted deer and ibex, supplementing their diet with plants and shells from the near Atlantic. Caves also served as shelter for cave bears during their hibernations.

From the Neolithic and Bronze Age, the Lezea Cave was inhabited by farmers and breeders, as evidenced by fragments of ceramics and animal bones. These occupations illustrate a transition to sedentary and breeding societies, marking a major change in local lifestyles.

In the 20th century, the site opened up to tourism with modern facilities: a path in sounds and lights, a reconstituted megalithic park, and a museum dedicated to anthropologist José Miguel de Barandiaran. In 2018, the caves attracted 92,000 visitors, ranking 7th most frequented natural site in New Aquitaine. Today, the management of the site, including paid visits (10 € in 2025) and a restaurant bar, is carried out by the town hall of Sare.

The caves also house protected wildlife, including thirteen species of bats threatened by human disturbance and pollution. Since 1999, they have been preserved by the Regional Conservatory of Natural Areas of Aquitaine and the Chiropter Group of Aquitaine. These efforts highlight the ecological importance of the site, in parallel with its heritage value.

Access to the caves is via departmental D 306 or the Txik Txak bus line (line 45), connecting Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Sare. The site, open all year except in January, offers infrastructures such as free parking and picnic areas, strengthening its tourist and educational attraction.

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