Grotte de Villars
France · Europe
The 'blue horse' — a painting turned luminous blue under a natural veil of translucent calcite
Age
~19,000 yrs
Period
Magdalenian
Setting
Cave
Art form
Paintings
Discovered
1953
Status
Open (Guided Visits)
A vast cave system in the northern Périgord where nature and art share the stage: spectacular stalactite formations surround Magdalenian paintings, including the famous 'blue horse', its manganese pigment tinted blue beneath a translucent film of calcite. A rare scene of a man confronting a bison is among the oldest known depictions of a human.
Gallery
Notable Features
- ◦ The 'Blue Horse'
- ◦ Man-and-bison scene
- ◦ Spectacular calcite formations
Depicted Subjects
HorsesBisonHuman FiguresIbex
Plan a Visit
AccessThis cave can be visited.
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.