The Aven d'Orgnac is a cave in the limestone plateau south of the Ardèche gorges, in the municipality of Orgnac-l'Aven, 15 km and 25 minutes from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. First explored on 19 August 1935 by Robert de Joly and his companions, opened to the public in 1939, it is listed as a Grand Site de France for its huge chambers and formations. The visit goes down to -121 m, where it is 12 °C. The site also includes the Prehistory Centre, covering 350,000 years of human history. A Chauvet Cave 2 ticket gives €1 off within 7 days.
Key facts
- 15.4 km and 25 minutes from Vallon (OSRM).
- Cave discovered on 19 August 1935, opened to the public on 11 July 1939, Grand Site de France.
- Visit down to -121 m, 12 °C all year: bring a warm layer.
- Prehistory Centre: 350,000 years of prehistory, workshops and demonstrations.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Orgnac-l’Aven (Ardèche) |
| From Vallon | 15.4 km, 25 min |
| Discovered | 19 August 1935 |
| Opened to the public | 11 July 1939 |
| Visit depth | -121 m |
| Temperature | 12 °C |
| Label | Grand Site de France |
Sources: official website, Wikipedia, OSRM.
The discovery
In 1935, Robert de Joly, founder of the Spéléo-club de France, was looking for a chasm to develop for tourism. On 19 August, guided by villagers to the “aven du Bertras”, five cavers went down and explored it as far as the Red Chambers, in ten hours. The municipality voted to develop it, and the aven opened on 11 July 1939. A lift was installed in 1965, and the 100,000-visitors-a-year mark was reached in 1966.
The Prehistory Centre
The site also presents 350,000 years of prehistory in a museum space, with authentic objects and, outdoors, workshops on prehistoric techniques: hunting, fire. The Orgnac III site is one of the oldest known to have yielded Levallois flaking tools.
With Chauvet 2
The two sites combine well in a day: Chauvet Cave 2 is in Vallon, 25 minutes away. Its ticket gives €1 off at Orgnac within 7 days.
Book a trip
Round off the day
Mini-descent of the Ardèche with a passage under the Pont d'Arc in your free time!2 hours★ 4.9 (21 reviews)from €28Check availability
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc: Electric Bike Wine Tour & Tasting3 hours★ 4.4 (7 reviews)from €79Check availability
Ardèche: guided tour of our winery with tasting1.5 hours★ 4.7 (8 reviews)from €12Check availability
"From" prices checked on 9 November 2026 and may have changed.
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Frequently asked questions
How cold is it in the Aven d'Orgnac?
12 °C according to the official website: bring a jumper, even in summer.
Aven d'Orgnac or Chauvet Cave 2?
They are two different visits: Orgnac is a natural cave with giant chambers, Chauvet 2 a replica of a painted cave. The Chauvet 2 ticket gives €1 off at Orgnac within 7 days.
Sources
Information checked against the sources below. Prices and opening times change: confirm before you go.
- Aven d'Orgnac, Grand Site de France, official website (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Wikipedia, Aven d'Orgnac (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Chauvet Cave 2, opening times and prices: combined tickets (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- OSRM on OpenStreetMap, driving times, accessed 9 November 2026
