Grotte du Mas d’Azil

The Pyrenees

LoginSave

Twenty-five kilometres northwest of Foix, near Le Mas d’Azil, this rock shelter is famous for its rich finds of prehistoric tools. Visits are by guided tour, which take you through underground galleries and describe the lives of those who lived here as well as some of the artefacts found here by archaeologists over the years. Note that you won't see any original paintings here.

The ticket also includes entry to the Musée de la Préhistoire in the town of Mas d'Azil (1km north of the cave entrance). English-language tours are available once or twice per day from June to October. Call or go online to reserve a spot. Note that the entrance to the cave is right on the D119 in a vehicular tunnel dug through the mountain. Parking is just south of the tunnel entrance; a pedestrian walkway runs parallel to the road.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Eentrance of the cave of Niaux.

    Grotte de Niaux

    21.21 MILES

    Most people know about the prehistoric artworks of the Dordogne, but far fewer realise that ancient painters left their mark in caves all across the…

  • Rivière Souterraine de Labouiche

    Rivière Souterraine de Labouiche

    11.99 MILES

    Deep beneath the village of Labouiche, 6km northwest of Foix, flows Europe’s longest navigable underground river. Discovered in 1908 by a local doctor, it…

  • Château de Montségur

    Château de Montségur

    27.66 MILES

    For the full Monty Python medieval vibe, tackle the steep 20-minute climb to the ruins of this hilltop fortress, 32km east of Foix (and don't forget to…

  • Parc de la Préhistoire

    Parc de la Préhistoire

    18.51 MILES

    Eighteen kilometres south of Foix, near Tarascon-sur-Ariège, this excellent museum-park provides a useful primer on the area’s prehistoric past. The…

  • Lombrives

    Lombrives

    21.85 MILES

    Twenty-two kilometres northwest of Ax-les-Thermes on the N20 near Ussat-les-Bains, Europe’s largest cave system burrows its way through the soft limestone…

  • Château de Foix

    Château de Foix

    14.51 MILES

    The Ariège’s most unmistakeable landmark is Foix’ triple-towered castle, the stronghold of the powerful Comtes de Foix. Built in the 10th century, it…

  • Musée de Montségur

    Musée de Montségur

    27.86 MILES

    Tucked into the sleepy village of Montségur, this small museum contains a collection of Cathar relics, models of siege weapons and visual displays of what…

  • Musée de la Préhistoire

    Musée de la Préhistoire

    0.82 MILES

    In the town just north of the Grotte du Mas d'Azil, this prehistory museum contains a trove of objects unearthed in the nearby caves. It's small, but well…

View more attractions

Nearby The Pyrenees attractions

1. Musée de la Préhistoire

0.82 MILES

In the town just north of the Grotte du Mas d'Azil, this prehistory museum contains a trove of objects unearthed in the nearby caves. It's small, but well…

2. Rivière Souterraine de Labouiche

11.99 MILES

Deep beneath the village of Labouiche, 6km northwest of Foix, flows Europe’s longest navigable underground river. Discovered in 1908 by a local doctor, it…

3. Château de Foix

14.51 MILES

The Ariège’s most unmistakeable landmark is Foix’ triple-towered castle, the stronghold of the powerful Comtes de Foix. Built in the 10th century, it…

4. Les Forges de Pyrène

16.65 MILES

In Montgailhard, 4.5km south of Foix, this ‘living museum’ explores Ariège folk traditions, with live displays of ancient trades such as blacksmithing,…

5. Parc de la Préhistoire

18.51 MILES

Eighteen kilometres south of Foix, near Tarascon-sur-Ariège, this excellent museum-park provides a useful primer on the area’s prehistoric past. The…

6. Grotte de Niaux

21.21 MILES

Most people know about the prehistoric artworks of the Dordogne, but far fewer realise that ancient painters left their mark in caves all across the…

7. Lombrives

21.85 MILES

Twenty-two kilometres northwest of Ax-les-Thermes on the N20 near Ussat-les-Bains, Europe’s largest cave system burrows its way through the soft limestone…

8. Château de Montségur

27.66 MILES

For the full Monty Python medieval vibe, tackle the steep 20-minute climb to the ruins of this hilltop fortress, 32km east of Foix (and don't forget to…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "france/vallee-de-l-ariege/attractions/grotte-du-mas-d-azil/a/poi-sig/1233770/1317067",
  "destination": "The-Pyrenees",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "country": "France",
  "region": "The-Pyrenees",
  "position": "superzone"
}