Travel 2016 – Tip 20 – France – Niaux

This travel tip is not so difficult to understand. The 13,000-year old cave paintings in the Grotte de Niaux, about two miles from Tariscon-sur-Ariege are unmissable.

Tarascon is worth a look around for 1.5 hours with its clock tower, which provides views over the local valleys, the church of St Michel, and the old town. Locals seem genuinely surprised to see someone carrying a camera.

Cameras can’t be taken into the Niaux caves as the paintings are simply too sensitive to be photographed. You have to book ahead especially if you want one of the 20 places on the English speaking tour at 13:30 daily.

Each person carries a lamp into the cave. There’s a walk of approximately 800 metres to the entrance to the Salon Noir where the paintings are found. All lamps have to be left on a rock and the only illumination in the Salon Noir is provided by the guide. There are three separate sections of paintings, low down to the ground. Bison, horses, and goats are represented. Not all animals are fully drawn, as these painters, working with just fire as illumination don’t forget, were extremely skilful and introduced perspective into their drawings.

In the second set of figures, one goat is beautifully reproduced – this was the absolute highlight for me. It was so detailed and the colours were still sharp after all these years.