Listed as a historic monument and located in the heart of the Provençal scrubland, the cave is a 1-hour 15-minute walk from the Verdon Gorge Prehistory Museum. Upon reservation, a scientific and cultural mediator will guide you there.
March to October
Description
Broom, lavender, thyme, and other scrubland shrubs accompany the walk with their fragrances. The path is steep, but accessible to most. First reward: from the top of the Caillandre rock, the panorama is splendid over the Quinson plain, the course of the Verdon, and the entrance to the lower gorges. With the help of illustrated information panels, the guide offers a reading of the evolution of the landscape before you, from prehistory to today.
The path then descends into the heart of the Verdon Gorge, following the turquoise water. As you walk, the guide answers your questions, shares anecdotes and legends about the surrounding area, and prepares you for your discovery of the cave. After a protected passage and a staircase, here it is, overlooked by an impressive limestone cliff over 20 meters high. A little thrill: humans have been entering this cave for 400 years, and now it's your turn to explore what illustrious researchers (Henry De Lumley, Jean Gagnepain, Claire Gaillard, etc.) have discovered.
The Baume Bonne cave: 50 years of archaeological excavations:
In December 1946, Bernard Bottet first brought the cave to the attention of the scientific community. With his son Bertrand, he excavated the site for about ten years. Then came Henry de Lumley and his team, from 1957 to 1968, who excavated most of the rock shelter, laid out the grid of the site, and gave it its current appearance. For more than 20 years, the site fell into relative oblivion, until 1988, when excavations resumed under the direction of Jean Gagnepain and Claire Gaillard, for about ten years.
Minimum age: 7 years
Other details
From 7 years old Distance: 3,5km l Elevation gain: 200m l Level: 4/5 Reservation required: 04 92 74 09 59 Duration of the visit: 3 hours, including 30 hours of walking there and back (walking shoes and water essential).