Quick answer
The Aven d'Orgnac, in the Ardèche, is about 46 km and 55 minutes by car from Uzès (a route planner), so allow a half day for the cave and the prehistory city beside it. The cave is visited only with a guide, on about 700 steps down; it stays cool underground whatever the weather outside.
Good for: a day when it rains or is too hot outside, anyone curious about caves and prehistory.
Not for: anyone who cannot manage steps or a long guided walk, or who wants a short outing.
The Aven d'Orgnac is a cave on the Ardèche plateau, in the commune of Orgnac-l'Aven, labelled a Grand Site de France. It was found in 1935. The guided route goes down about 700 steps into large chambers, and next to it the Cité de la Préhistoire shows how people lived in the region. Of the caves near Uzès it is the one that asks the most of your legs and the most of your day; the nearer alternative is the Grotte de la Salamandre.
| What | What to know | Check before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Drive from Uzès | About 46 km and 55 minutes by car, by a route planner (the village of Orgnac-l'Aven is slightly nearer). La Valette is five minutes from Uzès. | A live map on the day. |
| The visit | The cave is visited only with a guide, in a group, for about an hour to an hour and a quarter. The route goes down about 700 steps; listings mention a lift for the way back up. | Whether the lift suits your needs: ask the cave before you go. |
| Tickets and time | The cave's own site says the ticket gives a departure time, to be at the cave door about five minutes before, and advises booking ahead when it rains and in August. | Departure times and booking on orgnac.com. We state no price: the sources we found differ. |
| Season | Guides list it open daily from February to mid-November and in the Christmas holidays, closed on 25 December and 1 January. Third-party guides give departures every half hour in spring and autumn, with longer days in July and August. | The dates of the year you travel, especially after mid-November. |
| Cité de la Préhistoire | The museum and outdoor site next to the cave is visited freely with the same ticket, in one to two hours by the guides we found. | That the ticket you buy includes it. |
| Cool underground | One guide gives about 12 °C all year, summer and winter. Bring a layer and shoes with grip. | Nothing; wear what you would for a cool cellar. |
Below
The guided visit, step by step
You go down with a guide, in a group, on about 700 steps. Allow an hour to an hour and a quarter, and arrive a little before the time on your ticket. Take a layer: it is cool below even on a hot day.
Departures and booking: orgnac.com
Above
The prehistory city, at your own pace
Next to the cave, the Cité de la Préhistoire is visited freely, in one to two hours by the guides we found. Do it before or after the cave as the departure time dictates, and plan a half day in all.
Plan the day
A weather-proof half day, or a cave pair
The cave is a good answer to a grey or very hot day: book a departure, then the prehistory city. For a lighter option nearer home, the Grotte de la Salamandre is about 35 minutes away, and our rainy day near Uzès has more ideas. Both caves in one day is possible but long; we have not timed it, so check the departures first.
Frequently asked
A cave day in the Ardèche
About 46 km and 55 minutes by car, by a route planner. The village of Orgnac-l'Aven is slightly nearer. Add the time for the visit: allow a half day.
The cave's own site advises booking ahead when it rains and in August, because the ticket carries a departure time and the queue at the desk can be long. Check the current rules on its site.
The route goes down about 700 steps, and listings mention a lift for the way back up. If steps or a long guided walk are a problem, ask the cave about access before you go; the lift's exact use is not something we have confirmed.
One guide gives about 12 °C underground all year, so bring a layer even in summer, and shoes with grip for the steps.
Guides list it open daily from February to mid-November and in the Christmas holidays, with closures on 25 December and 1 January. We did not confirm the dates for the coming winter, so check its site.
Planning a stay?
A base five minutes from Uzès
Check availability and book direct, with no platform fees. We reply to questions within 24 hours.
Check availabilitySee the apartments
Questions about your dates? Message us on WhatsApp
More to explore