The Caves of Sare

Sare is a small and picturesque village in the Pyrenees of southwestern France, located near the country border with Spain. It is established in the traditional Basque province, and it is well-known for hosting a remarkably captivating natural phenomenon – the Caves of Sare.

Among the giant local cavity ecosystem, there is one bigger cave, called Lezea, which is recognized to be a former shelter of the Aurignacians -the early European humans from the Upper Paleolithic. This spot is usually referred to as “The Caves of Sare,” although there are tens of others not so popular cavities around. Touring the site is an educating, engaging, and exciting experience, so here is what to expect from it.

Inside the Caves of Sare

The cave is open for visitors all-year-round, except for the month of January. Morning visits are available from April to November; the rest of the time, you can enter it no earlier than noon.

Once you arrive at the spot, you will be supplied with an explanatory detail sheet in English, since the guided tour inside the cave is currently carried out in French only. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and will give you a holistic insight into the place – its peculiar geological formation, prehistoric habitation, and relations to the Basque mythology. The tour is complemented with lights and sounds that constitute a beautiful multimedia show and will honestly make you “wow” at least a couple of times.

Keep in mind that the cave is dripping and relatively chilly (around 14°C), so it’s wise to bring a jacket or cardigan to wear while inside. It is also a part European Natura 2000 network because of the different species living there, bats including. That’s one of the reasons why you won’t be allowed to take pictures during the tour.

Touristic spots outside the Cave of Sare

Once your guided tour is finished (or before it even began), there is a lot more to explore around the area. You can enter The Site Museum free of charge – it explains the stages of human evolution, displays various relics from the region, and describes the role of bats in the local ecosystem.

The Megalithic Park is another entrance-free, open-air facility that recreates various monuments and rituals from the Neolithic and the Metal Age. There are informational panels in different languages that will give you a better understanding of the things you’re observing.