Grotte de Bara-Bahau — Attraction in Sarlat-la-Canéda

One of the smaller privately owed prehistoric caves. Discovered in 1951, work was undertaken to make to cave accessible to a larger public. In the process the original blockages were removed, severely altering the geography. Luckily ‘the original entrees’ were more or less preserved.

The engravings are actually quite interesting and worth the visit. Some 18 carvings are engraved on three panels including three impressive abstract symbols, a hand, six horses, two bison, an aurochs, reindeer, bear and two incomplete drawings.

If you have visited other caves this is a very interesting addition and you will experience the limitations of line-drawings or photographs you might have seen. The shape of the rock surface and changing expositions with light make you emerge in...

We hadn’t heard of this cave before but thought we’d give it a go after seeing signs while in the area. I’m so glad we did as the tour was very good. It was done in French and English, which was helpful, and the information was really interesting. I’ve not seen cave bear scratchings before and it felt really special to be treading in the same area that these animals once were. It was wonderful to see the engravings too and to learn about how prehistoric humans used the claw marks to make their art. (It’s also a great value...

Website and signs outside led us to believe guided tours were in french and English. Went on Wednesday at 12.15 to be told closed till 2pm. Fair enough, common for places to close 12 till 2 in the dordogne area. Went back Thursday having booked in advance for 2pm only to be told by the same woman on the desk that English speaking tour would be at 4pm. It would have been helpful to have been told this...