Aven d’Orgnac – Grand Site de France – The City of Prehistory

On the Grand Site de l'Aven d'Orgnac, the Cité de la Préhistoire - a modern, playful museographic space with the Musée de France label - evokes 350,000 years of human adventures through authentic collections of local remains of human occupation.

>>>> Understanding the age-old history of the earth and its inhabitants
Situated just a stone's throw from the Gorges de l'Ardèche, Aven d'Orgnac is a unique site in several respects: classified for its scientific value, it has been awarded the "Grand site de France" label for its sustainable management of an exceptional natural site. It offers a wide range of activities in the same area, enabling visitors to understand both the geological evolution of the area and its occupation by man over the course of time, notably at the Cité de la Préhistoire.

To visit the Cité de la Préhistoire is to experience a moving face-to-face encounter with our ancestors, and to better understand who these not-so-distant men and women were!

In this museographic space, spanning 350,000 years of human adventures - from the Middle Paleolithic to the First Iron Age - authentic objects from excavations in the Ardèche and northern Gard regions are presented in a redesigned museography, featuring multi-player touch tables, engaging soundscapes, explanatory videos, life-size illustrations and more. A modern, emotionally-charged visit that offers a fresh look at the remains on display, and depending on the season, the chance to try out prehistoric activities such as fire, flint and darts!

>>>> Discover the Grand Site de France
Continue your visit to the Grand Site de France with the Grotte d'Orgnac, which adjoins the Cité de la Préhistoire.
Its gigantic volumes and the beauty of its subterranean landscapes are astonishing. Giant palms, translucent fistulas, eccentrics, candlesticks, organ cases, columns, ochre-coloured draperies, clay fir trees... coiled in balance beneath ceilings up to 55 metres high.

The Grotto and the Cité de Préhistoire: two reasons to marvel at the past!

Quality Charter/Quality Label

• Famille Plus
• Indoor
• Qualité Tourisme™
• "Accueil Vélo" : Cyclists Welcome label
• Recommended by high heat

• Average duration of the individual tour: 120 min
• Average duration of the group tour: 120 min
• From 5 years old
• Groups welcome from 20 to 150 people.

Clientele

• Home school groups
• Holiday Camps Home
• Children
• Bikers welcome
• Special rate for large families
• Special rate for disabled people
• Special rate for jobseekers
• Cyclists
• Mountain bikers
• Groups
• Welcome for business/incentive groups
• Students

Tour languages

• Italian
• Dutch
• English
• French

Audio tour languages

• Italian
• Dutch
• German
• English
• Spanish
• French

Individual tour services

• Unguided individual tours available permanently

Group tour services

• Guided group tours on request

Methods of payment

• Check
• Cash
• Bank/credit card
• Pass’Région
• Culture Pass
• Travellers Cheque
• Credit transfer

Facilities

• Parking nearby
• Car park
• Coach parking
• Public WC
• Auditorium
• Film room
• Bar
• Defibrillator
• Sustainable development
• Waste management
• Photovoltaic panel
• Play area
• Picnic area
• Exhibition space
• Lift
• Air conditioning
• Toilets

Services

• Educational visits
• Coach access
• Motorhomes allowed
• Themed tour
• Shop
• Set down on-site for groups
• Wi-fi
• Tourist brochures
• Tourist information
• Booking of general amenities
• Restaurant
• Guided tours

On-site activities

• Temporary exhibition
• Theatre
• Activity
• Children's entertainment
• Product tasting

Tourism adapted to

• Hearing disability
• Visual disability
• Accessible for wheelchairs with assistance

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