Plan your visit

To the caves of Gargas

For conservation reasons, the number of daily visitors and departures to the caves is limited.

Remember to book your visit beforehand to ensure your place:

• by phone : +0033.5.62.98.81.50
• by e-mail : gargas.nestploria@nestploria.fr

It is essential to respect the time slot of your visit to the caves. You must arrive at the Nestploria ticket office at least 30 minutes before the start of the visit, so you have enough time to buy your tickets and get to the entrance of the caves, which is 900m away. We are unable to guarantee entry to latecomers. If you arrive earlier, you can visit the Nestploria digital centre before the caves.

The Gargas caves cannot accommodate people with reduced mobility, but Nestploria has been designed to do just that. Similarly, pushchairs are not allowed, although it is possible to use a baby carrier.
Pets are not allowed in Nestploria or the Gargas caves.
Photos and videos are strictly forbidden in the Gargas caves, but are allowed in Nestploria.

Prices (2024)

Visits to the Gargas caves by prior arrangement on +0033.5.62.98.81.50.

The child rate applies to children aged 6 to 16.
Bring warm clothes, as the temperature inside the caves is 11°C all year round !
Pets are not allowed in the caves or at the Nestploria digital interpretation centre.

1.Visit to the caves of Gargas

The ticket for the Gargas caves guided tour (50 min) also gives access to the Nestploria digital interpretation centre (30 min) and Les explorateurs de la Préhistoire exhibition (30 min).

The tour is in French, but we can provide english-speaking visitors with a written translation.

2. Special tours of Gargas

Special tours are longer than the normal ones (1h30). These tours are in French only. In-depth tours allow you to spend more time in the caves, make sure you don't miss anything, and talk at greater length with the guide. The evening tours are themed, so check the Gargas 2023 diary for dates and topics.

Visit the Nestploria digital centre

(prices exclude cave tour)

The ticket for the Nestploria digital interpretation center (30 min) also gives access to the Prehistoric Explorers exhibition (30 min).

Opening hours

Opening times at Nestploria IN SEASON (May to September) :

Open every day non-stop:

• From 10.30 am to 5.30 pm from 1 May to 11 July.
• From 10am to 6pm from 12 July to 31 August.
• From 10.30 am to 5.30 pm from 1 September to 30 September.

Opening times at Nestploria OFF-SEASON (October to April) :

• Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30am to 5.30pm. Closed on Mondays.
• Open on public holidays except on December 25th and January 1st.

Opening times for the prehistoric caves of Gargas :

The prehistoric caves of Gargas are subject to daily visitor quotas in order to preserve their treasures. For this reason, whatever the season, we strongly recommend that you book your visit to the caves by phone on +0033.05.62.98.81.50

Location

The Gargas and Nestploria caves are located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, between the villages of Aventignan and Tibiran. Route départementale 261 / 81 route de Gargas.

If you are using a GPS, enter ‘Aventignan’ and not ‘Gargas’.
Grottes de Gargas/Nestplori@, Aventignan, France

• Latitude : 43.06234
• Longitude : 0.537873

Coming to Gargas

Restauration

Next to the Nestploria Digital Center and the Gargas Caves ticket office, you'll also find the Paleo restaurant, serving traditional southern cuisine (salads, grills, cooked dishes, fresh fish…). The restaurant has a large, welcoming dining room seating around 60, and a pleasant terrace.

There are other restaurants around Gargas/Nestploria, for more information visit the Neste Barousse tourist office website.

Access map

The Gargas caves are located in Aventignan : 1h15 from Toulouse, 1H10 from Pau and 45 min from Tarbes.

• From Toulouse on the A64 towards Tarbes, take exit 17. At the Montréjeau exit towards Lannemezan, follow signs for Mazères de Neste / Aventignan.
• From Pau and Tarbes on the A64 towards Toulouse, take exit 16. Follow signs for La Barthe-de-Neste / Saint-Laurent-de-Neste / Aventignan.

The nearest train station is Gourdan-Polignan, 7.5 km away.