La Grotte de Domme: A Journey into Earth’s Depths
Photo by: Office de Tourisme Périgord Noir Vallée Dordogne
If you’re looking for a slice of history and natural beauty, you can’t miss out on visiting the La Grotte de Domme in France. Beneath the old bastide town of Domme lies this hidden underground gem that’s a must-see for all visitors.
If you plan on visiting La Grotte de Domme, you need to read this article until the very end. Over the next couple of minutes, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about La Grotte de Domme – from its origins and geological features to opening times and cost to visit.
But before we do that – don’t forget to check out our range of holiday apartments in Domme. They are comfortable, spacious, and offer everything you need to make your trip to the Grotte de Domme a memorable one.
Summary
- Origins of La Grotte de Domme
- Geological Features
- Cave Art Dordogne
- Information and Bookings
- Recommendations for Visiting La Grotte de Domme
- Conclusion
Origins of La Grotte de Domme
La Grotte de Domme is known as one of the village’s prime attractions and one of the top 10 things to do in Domme, Dordogne. It will only take one look at the cave to see why that is.
This is the largest fitted-out cave in Périgord Noir and has undergone some recent restorations, so it now has beautiful light features that complement the natural light of the cave. It has amazing stalactites and stalagmites that instantly catch your eye, and it’s definitely worth the 45-minute visit if you’re in Domme.
It is believed that the cave has always looked the way it does and the very first known person to witness its beauty was Philippe III in 1281, which was also when Domme was founded.
Geological Features
While the Domme caves are known for their prehistoric cave art, La Grotte de Domme is primarily known for its geological features. Visiting the cave is a trip into an all-natural world full of wonderful rock formations.
The viewing gallery is over 450 meters long, giving you and your family a lot of space to take in the scenery and enjoy what nature has to offer in that part of the world.
Domme Caves – Office de Tourisme Périgord Noir Vallée Dordogne
Cave Art Dordogne
When it comes to exploring the infamous Dordogne France cave paintings, you have plenty of options to pick from. The three most popular caves with incredible prehistoric cave art in Dordogne include Grotte de Rouffignac, Les Eyzies, and Grotte des Merveilles. And now, let’s take a quick look at what each one has to offer:
Grotte de Rouffignac
Also known as the Cave of the Hundred Mammoths, Grotte de Rouffignac is a network of underground galleries, which spans an impressive 8 kilometers. Rather than walking this distance, visitors can explore the 250+ different prehistoric drawings and engravings by jumping on the guided train ride. It is believed that some of the drawings in this cave date back 13,000 years. You can find out more about this cave on the Grotte de Rouffignac official website.
Les Eyzies
Les Eyzies is widely recognized as the ‘World Capital of Prehistory’. It’s the place where visitors can observe original drawings and engravings from thousands of years ago. If you, your friends, or your family are into visiting paleolithic sites, both the Font-de-Gaume and the Combarelles caves are worthy of a visit. You can read more about Les Eyzies on the North of the Dordogne website.
Grotte des Merveilles
The Grotte des Marveilles is home to original paleolithic drawings of horses and deer, which date back to 20,000 B.C. It’s one of a kind – and what’s interesting about this cave is that it’s very easily accessible, unlike the large majority of caves in Dordogne. To find out more about this cave, you can do so on the official Grotte des Merveilles website.
Cave Art Dordogne – La Grotte de Lascaux (Lascaux Cave) – Photy by: SMartine (Flickr)
Information and Bookings
La Grotte de Domme has different opening and departure times depending on the season. Additionally, the tours through the Dordogne prehistoric caves are offered in English, French, German, and Spanish. To help plan out your trip better, below, you can find the exact dates and times for the Dordogne cave tours throughout the different seasons:
February, March, October, November, December
During the months mentioned above, there are a total of four departure times each day, including 11 am, 2.30 pm, 3:30 pm, and 4:30 pm.
June to September
Between June and September, there are a total of eight departure times. They include 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm, and 6 pm.
July 1 to July 9 and August 26 to August 31
During the specific dates outlined above, there are a total of 16 departure times, starting at 10:00 am and each following departure is 30 minutes later – the last one being at 6:30 pm.
July 10 to August 25
This is the busiest time of year. Between the above-mentioned dates, there are a total of 21 departures. The first departure is at 9:45 am and each next departure is 30 minutes later – the last one of which is at 6:30 pm.
While children under 5 years old are free to visit, the rate for adults is €9, €7.50 for students, and €6.50 for children over the age of 5. You can find the most up-to-date information regarding departure times and prices on the Perigord website.
Recommendations for Visiting the Grotte Domme
To make the most out of your trip to the Grotte Domme, here are a few things to consider:
- Wear sunscreen
- Wear clothes that allow you to move freely
- Take in the scenery
- Reserve in advance for English or Spanish tours as they often get fully booked
- Expect temperatures of 12-15 degrees Celsius inside the cave, so bring a jacket if you think it is necessary
Conclusion
The Grotte de Domme is just one of the fascinating places to visit in the Dordogne, this region has history, culture, routes and activities to discover that will leave you in awe and make your visit to this magical place an unforgettable experience.
La Perle de Dome offers holiday apartments in Dordogne for all types of travelers, whether you are traveling as a couple, with friends or as a family, the team at La Perle de Domme looks forward to welcoming you soon.