🌊 Cosquer Cave: A Prehistoric Underwater Treasure

⏳ 25,000 years ago, during the last ice age, the Calanques were not like they are today: the sea level was 120 meters lower and the current land was vast, cold plains... frequented by aurochs, bison, ibex, but also penguins and seals!

🖼️ These animals form an incredible bestiary painted and engraved on the walls of Cosquer Cave, a prehistoric sanctuary submerged at a depth of 37 meters, near Cap Morgiou.

🤿 A Unique Discovery

🔎 In 1985, Henri Cosquer, a diver from Marseille, discovered the underwater entrance to a 175-meter tunnel leading to a decorated cave. Officially recognized in 1991, it remains the only known underwater Paleolithic cave in the world!
🧊 Inaccessible for around 9,000 years due to rising water levels, it reveals a little-known aspect of prehistory in the Calanques.

🎨 A 27,000-year-old art gallery

🐴 Nearly 500 depictions are recorded on the walls:
177 animals from 11 species: horses, deer, aurochs, seals, fish...
Marine animals never seen elsewhere in cave art: penguins, jellyfish, cetaceans

👣 Children's and adults' hands, negative or positive
🔺 More than 200 geometric signs, some of which are still mysterious...
🧍‍♂️ There's even a man with a seal's head: proof of the sacred bond between man and the sea.

⚠️ A heritage in peril

🌊 The sea is rising slowly (about 2.5 mm per year), threatening this fragile site. To preserve it, a comprehensive 3D survey was launched in 2017.
🏛️ In 2022, the Cosquer Méditerranée replica opened in Marseille, offering an immersive visit to admire this masterpiece of humanity without risking damage.

🎟️ A journey back 35,000 years awaits you: grotte-cosquer.com

⁉️ Did you know?
The Cosquer, Triperie, Figuier, and Renard caves and their networks, as well as the archaeological remains they contain, were listed as historical monuments by decree of September 2, 1992.

Discover the mystery of the Cosquer cave:

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 70 m

Weather

Today

Friday 24 October

18°C

15°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See rides here

Take Me There

Location: Cassis, Marseille, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte D'Azur, France

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Vue sur la calanque de Port Miou

🔒 Trolib Boucle Pédestre Port Pin - ℹ️ Port Pin

Point de vue sur Cassis

Plage d'En Vau

Route des Crêtes (Parc National des Calanques)

View of Calanque d'En Vau

Belle Vue

La Grande Candelle

Falaises du Devenson

Calanque de Port-Pin

Port-Miou Marina

Port of Cassis

🔒 Trolib Presqu'île - ℹ️ Cosquer Cave

1. Route de la Gineste – Col de la Gineste loop from Cassis

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️