Villars Cave

Villars Cave (Grotte de Villars) is one of the standout show caves of the Périgord, located in the commune of Villars in the Dordogne department, in the area known as Périgord Vert, north of Périgueux. It brings together two attractions rarely found in the same site: striking mineral formations and Paleolithic paintings created many thousands of years ago.

Where is Villars Cave located?

The cave sits at coordinates 45.44226, 0.78518, in a quiet, rural corner of Périgord Vert dotted with castles and karst caves. Together with the nearby Rouffignac cave, Villars forms part of one of the largest underground networks in the Dordogne, with explored passages stretching for several kilometers, although the section open to visitors covers roughly 600 meters.

What will you see inside?

The visitor route winds through several chambers linked by passageways where walls, ceilings and floors are coated in calcite, producing fine stalactites, abundant stalagmites, flowing draperies and unusual eccentric formations that grow against gravity. This wealth of mineral decoration, alongside the rock art, is what has drawn visitors to the cave for decades.

Paintings from the Ice Age

The most valuable part of the visit is the chamber holding Paleolithic paintings, created around 17,000 years ago during the Magdalenian period. Prehistoric artists used black manganese oxide and ochre, applied with a finger, a brush, or blown on as powder. The walls show horses, bison, deer, and a scene, rare in cave art, of a man facing a bison. Over time, several of the horse figures became covered by a thin, milky layer of calcite that gave them a distinctive bluish tint — the source of the cave's famous nickname, the "little blue horse." Around thirty paintings have been identified in total, none longer than half a meter.

Discovery and authentication

The cave was found in December 1953, when members of a speleology club from Périgueux noticed vapor escaping from a small opening in the rock, a sign of a hidden cavity beyond. Over the following years of exploration, they found traces of past animal activity and damaged mineral formations. It was only at the end of 1957 that a dark line on a chamber wall caught the explorers' attention, leading in January 1958 to the opening of the painted chamber. The authenticity and age of the artwork were soon confirmed by the renowned prehistorian Abbé Henri Breuil.

Practical information for visitors

Villars Cave can only be visited with a guide, and the tour lasts about 45 minutes. The temperature inside stays constant and cool, around 13°C, so a warm layer is worth bringing, and the ground can be slippery in places. To protect the paintings, photography is not allowed inside the cave. The site operates seasonally, generally from April to November, with opening hours that vary by month.

FAQ

Can you take photos inside Villars Cave? No, photography is prohibited inside the cave to protect the fragile paintings from flash exposure and deterioration.

How long does the visit take? The guided tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.

How old are the cave paintings? The paintings date from the Magdalenian period and are around 17,000 years old.

Is the cave open all year? No, Villars Cave operates seasonally, typically from April to November, with hours that change month to month.

What do the paintings depict? Horses, including the famous "little blue horse," bison, deer, and a rare scene showing a man facing a bison.