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Chauvet & Cosquer
From £2,470
Summary
An in-depth analysis of two of palaeontology’s greatest finds
Palaeolithic cave painting and engravings are mankind’s first recognisable artistic expression, but they mean more even than that. They show creatures which were extant during the Ice Age, shed light on hunter gatherer culture thousands of years old and many archaeologists believe that the art is a highly sophisticated way of expressing complex beliefs about the supernatural world. The story of mankind is a constantly changing jigsaw puzzle in which many pieces are missing or even change shape as improvements in scientific dating methods and new discoveries redefine them yet again. The discovery of the caves at Cosquer in the Ardeche in 1985 and Chauvet – Pont d’Arc in Provence in 1994 were of huge significance. Exceptional because of the number and variety of the animal images depicted, their extreme age and quality, together with the sheer size of both sites with their interlocking galleries; these caves revolutionize our understanding of emerging human creativity.
Andante Travels is unique amongst tour operators in including the prehistoric past in so many of our programmes and in offering some which are solely devoted to this fascinating and less well-known period of our common heritage. Join us on this tour for an in-depth analysis of two of palaeontology’s greatest finds in the company of Dr Paul Bahn, worldwide expert on rock art and fabulous exponent of popular and accessible archaeology.
Tour highlights:
Meet your Experts
Dr Paul Bahn
Andante Guide Lecturer
Dr Paul Bahn is the leading expert on prehistoric rock art worldwide, and is certainly one of our best-known archaeologists.
Your itinerary
Day 1 - London – Marseille - Avignon
We fly to Marseille and transfer to our hotel in Avignon. There will be an evening lecture before our first meal together as a group.
| Meals included | Lunch, Dinner |
|---|
Day 2 - Chauvet
Lessons learned at Lascaux where the cave suffered irreparable damage before its closure in 1963, the Chauvet cave has never been opened to the public since its discovery in 1994. Restrictions imposed by the French Ministry of Culture bar all but scientists and other researchers from the fragile environment of the cave itself. However, recognizing that an international audience was clamouring to view the cave, a $62.5 million facsimile, called the Caverne du Pont d’Arc, after a nearby landmark, was created and this morning we will explore this unique facility.
The simulated cavern is not only a stunning real-life recreation of the cave but also a celebration to its discovery when three weekend cavers tunnelled their way through a narrow passage, using hammers and awls to chip away at the rocks and stalactites that blocked their progress, and descended into a world frozen in time—its main entrance blocked off by a massive rock slide 29,000 years ago.
In the afternoon we will drive to Aven D’Ornac where we visit the Cite de la Prehistoire. The Exhibitions here take us on a journey from the Middle Paleolithic to the first Iron Age covering a period of 350,000 years from Neanderthal to Homo Sapiens, examining the lifestyle of hunter gatherers through their agriculture, husbandry, and metallurgy.
| Meals included | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 3 - Cosquer
We spend out morning at Cosquer Mediterranee, to see the state-of-the-art facsimile of La Grotte Cosquer. Six years in the making, this new museum opened its doors in June 2022, and it is evident that the technical skill used to create the facsimile at Lascaux and Chauvet has shown dividends here. Years of painstaking analysis undertaken by scientists who examined the subaquatic art millimetre by millimetre has resulted in a fabulous true to life accessible version of this precious cave site. The entire scale of the 2,300m2 cave system has been faithfully replicated with meticulous attention to detail. As you are conveyed through the tunnels, skilful lighting reveals more than 500 images which unfold just as you travel deeper into the facsimile. Hundreds of different animals are depicted from megaceros to penguins as well as carvings etched into the ceilings and walls.
In the afternoon, weather permitting, we will take a boat trip along the beautiful stretch of coast between Marseille and Cassis to see the area where the cave lies hidden.
| Meals included | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 4 - Avignon - Marseille - London
We transfer to the airport for our flight home.
| Meals included | Breakfast, Lunch |
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Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Expert Guide Lecturer
- Professional Tour Manager
- Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
- Meals as per the itinerary, wine and tea or coffee with dinner
- Accommodation
- All taxes & gratuities
- Field notes
| Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single supplement | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 April 2024 | ACHA240426 | 26 April 2024 (Friday) | 29 April 2024 (Monday) | Dr Paul Bahn | £2,470 (inc. flights) |
£500 | £205 | Book your trip |
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