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<< Our Photo Pages >> Grotte de Mas D'Azil - Cave or Rock Shelter in France in Midi:Ariège (09)

Submitted by TheCaptain on Wednesday, 06 March 2013  Page Views: 24784

Natural PlacesSite Name: Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Country: France Département: Midi:Ariège (09) Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Nearest Town: Foix  Nearest Village: Mas D'Azil
Latitude: 43.069000N  Longitude: 1.354000E
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 4

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I have visited· I would like to visit

43559959 would like to visit

NickyD visited on 1st Jul 2013 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 5

TheCaptain visited on 10th Sep 2005 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5 Parked at the upstream end of the Mas d'Azil cave, and it hits home again just how MASSIVE this cave is. I walk through the cave again, partly to check where the low bits are for the van. I have forgotten that you can see all sorts of bits and pieces of passages inside. Decided not to bother with the paid visit, although perhaps I should have, cos I spent enough other time here anyway. A bungy jump has been set up outside the south entrance to the cave, and I watch people doing this for a while - seeing people dropping and hanging in front of the cave entrance really shows the scale. Eventually leave and drive through the cave to the village.

TheCaptain visited on 24th Apr 2005 - their rating: Access: 5 A lovely sunny day to explore the Ariege mountains. Puivert castle. Fontestorbes. Montsegur Castle. Pass de ? closed. Plain de ? Ax-les-Thermes, Col de Portel, scary roads. The usual drive through of Mas D’Azil on the way home to impress visitors. Get back to Toulouse late.

TheCaptain visited on 27th Feb 2000 - their rating: Access: 5 Drive south into the lower mountains from Toulouse. Visit St Sulpice, Mas D’Azil, many mountain roads, Foix, Pont du Diable.

Kuba visited - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 4

davidmorgan have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4.67 Ambience: 4 Access: 4.8

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by thecaptain : The southern, upstream, entrance to the magnificent cave at Mas D'Azil, Ariege, southwest France. The river takes a shortcut through the hillside here, and has created a massive cave, which is so big that a fairly large road also runs through the cave. Within this cave were found signs of life going back tens of thousands of years, and indeed the world famous Faon aux Oiseaux spear thrower... (Vote or comment on this photo)
Near to the village of Mas D'Azil, the river takes a shortcut through the hillside, and has created a massive cave, which is so big that a fairly large road also runs through the cave.

Within this cave were found signs of life going back tens of thousands of years, and indeed the world famous Faon aux Oiseaux spear thrower. The finds here gave the name Azilian to an entire prehistoric culture.

Note: Some more great archive images unearthed by Durhamnature, check out the painted pebbles and the 'monkey man'
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Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by hoschi : Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France Impression from the inside of this cave. The nice lady at the entrance switched on the lights and left us alone... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Painted pebbles, from "Der Mensch Aller Zeiten" via archive.org Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France (Vote or comment on this photo)

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by thecaptain : The northern, downstream, exit of the Grotte de Mas D'Azil, Ariege, southwest France. The river has taken a shortcut through the hill and has created a massive and magnificent cave. Artefacts found within this cave include the world famous Faon aux Oiseaux spear thrower, which along with other items has given the Azilian name to an entire prehistoric culture. There are also several dolmens ... (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Painted pebbles, from "Introduction to Stone Age Art" via archive,org Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France (Vote or comment on this photo)

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by theCaptain : View of the upstream end of this massive cave, where the river and road enter the hillside. This day in 2005, there waas a bungee jump set up from above the entrance to the cave, which I think gives a good idea of its massive size. (3 comments)

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by theCaptain : View towards the upstream end of this massive cave from the road through it. Hopefully this gives some idea of the size.

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by TheCaptain : Found this lovely picture of Le Tour de France passing through the Grotte de Mas D'Azil yesterday during the fabulous Pamiers to Luchon stage. Borrowed from elsewhere on t'interweb, but I'm sure they wont mind it being posted here. Image Copyright PRESSE SPORTS (1 comment)

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by regina : Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France southern entrance

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by regina : Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France northern entrance

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by Flickr : grotte du Mas d'Azil Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France Image copyright: m-idre31, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by Flickr

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by Flickr

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : "Monkey-man"; most books show an edited version of this image, from "Anthropologie" via archive.org

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Old photo of the cave entrance, from "Anthropologie" via archive.org

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Plan of the cave, from "Anthropologie" via archive.org

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Animal head, wearing a bridle, possibly an ox, from "Anthropologie" via archive.org Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Horse's head, wearing a bridle, from "Anthropologie" via archive.org Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Two Horses heads on an antler, from "Anthropologie" via archive.org Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Statuette, from "Introduction to Stone Age Art" via archive,org Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : "The Monkey Man", from Der Diluviale Menschen.." via archive.org

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Reindeer antler carving, from "La France Prehistorique" via archive.org Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Painted pebbles, image from "Men of the Old Stone Age" via archive.org Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France

Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by durhamnature : Harpoon, image from "Men of the Old Stone Age" via archive.org Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 1.3km NNE 18° Musée de Mas-d'Azil* Museum
 1.3km NNW 337° Cap-Del Pouech Dolmen* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 2.2km NW 325° Dolmen de Bidot Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 2.9km NW 324° Brillaud Dolmen* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 3.5km N 355° Dolmen de Balignas Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 3.7km NE 50° Dolmen de Peyré (Sabarat)* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 5.2km ENE 77° Goudère Dolmen* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 5.9km WNW 296° Dolmen de Couminge* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 5.9km SSW 201° Grotte de Malarnaud Cave or Rock Shelter
 8.3km SSE 160° Hautech ancient copper mine Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry
 9.4km S 177° Rougé ancient copper mine Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry
 11.9km WSW 250° Grotte des Trois-Frères* Cave or Rock Shelter
 12.1km NE 38° Abri de Buhuloup Cave or Rock Shelter
 13.0km WSW 252° Grotte de Tuc-d'Audobert* Cave or Rock Shelter
 14.8km SSW 208° Abères ancient lead mine Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry
 15.7km ESE 106° Grotte du Portel* Cave or Rock Shelter
 19.3km S 187° Grotte du Ker de Massat* Cave or Rock Shelter
 23.2km WNW 288° Dolmen de Couteret 2 Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 23.3km WNW 288° Dolmen de Couteret 3 Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 23.3km WNW 288° Dolmen de Couteret 1 Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 23.4km ESE 119° Musée Départemental de l'Ariège* Museum
 23.7km ESE 119° Grotte de Cheval Cave or Rock Shelter
 25.6km WNW 289° Dolmen dit Très Peyros Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 27.1km WSW 258° Grotte de Mongautin Cave or Rock Shelter
 27.4km ESE 113° Grotte de l'Herm Cave or Rock Shelter
View more nearby sites and additional images

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"Grotte de Mas D'Azil" | Login/Create an Account | 6 News and Comments
  
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Re: Grotte de Mas D'Azil by TheCaptain on Friday, 09 November 2012
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some interesting views from streetview.


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    Street View: Grotte de Mas D'Azil by holger_rix on Friday, 25 December 2015
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    Just Wow. Did you ever drive through via Streetview?
    Whats this?

    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Grotte de Mas D'Azil by davidmorgan on Friday, 25 December 2015
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    No, I didn't see that wormhole portal on my motorbike when I went through it in '02. Far out!
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Grotte de Mas D'Azil by TheCaptain on Monday, 29 November 2010
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Notes from my visit in September 2005.

Parked at the upstream end of the Mas d'Azil cave, and it hits home again just how MASSIVE this cave is. I walk through the cave again, partly to check where the low bits are for the van. I have forgotten that you can see all sorts of bits and pieces of passages inside. Decided not to bother with the paid visit, although perhaps I should have, cos I spent enough other time here anyway.

A bungy jump has been set up outside the south entrance to the cave, and I watch people doing this for a while - seeing people dropping and hanging in front of the cave entrance really shows the scale. Eventually leave and drive through the cave to the village.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Grotte de Mas D'Azil by coldrum on Tuesday, 07 July 2009
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Websites:

http://www.midi-pyrenees.biz/mp/ariege/ariege_mas_d_azil.htm

http://www.sesta.fr/?site=GrotteDuMasDAzil&page=menu2
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Grotte de Mas D'Azil by Anonymous on Sunday, 16 September 2007
Dear Sir or Madam

I am hoping you can assist me in identfying an archaeologist associated with the Mas d'Azil. Below is a letter by Henri Édouard Prosper Breuil to the editor of Nature entitled ‘Scientific Neglect of the Mas d’Azil’ (118: 2964. p. 265) dated 21 August 1926. In the letter Breuil mentions several archaeologists, including Ladavèze. This may be a misspelling for la Davèze or la Devèze. I am hoping you might be able to tell me who Ladavèze was, when he was born, when he died, for what university of institute he worked, and any other facts about him. Here is the letter for context:
‘L’état d’abandon que l’illustre écrivain M. Wells signale pour la caverne du Mas d’Azil est réel et fort regrettable, bien que les conséquences en soient probablement moins graves qu’il ne pense. Elle appartient à l’état, mais la commune en a l’usage de temps immémorial. Le cantonnier chargé de l’entretien de la route départementale qui la traverse en est le gardien officiel; c’est lui qui fait visiter les galeries obscures, plus intéressantes par le pittoresque que pour la science préhistorique, bien que de rares dessins pariétaux s’y rencontrent, et, deci-delá, quelques menus vestiges de fréquentation humaine. Sur la rive droite, le point important était la salle du Foyer et sa galerie inférieur. La salle du Foyer a été fouillée depuis longtemps dans sa totalité par Piette, Ladavèze, Maury, etc., et en dernier lieu (1901-1902) par moi-même. Je doute qu’elle contienne actuellement autre chose que les déblais de ces fouilles, sauf son couloir inférieur, où existent quelques peintures étudiées par le Comte Bégouen et moi. Les couches archéologiques peu épaisses qui y subsistent vers le fond sont sans doute l’objet des grattages don’t M. Wells nous entretient. Plus grave est le bouleversement réalisé l’année dernière dans cette région de la grotte par la municipalité pour y installer un théâtre. Mais je ne crois pas que les lieux de la caverne contenant encore du gisement, placés sur l’autre rive, aient été touchés récemment: une épaisse couche de pierrailles et de terre poudreuse les défend bien.’

Any information you can provide would be most gratefully received. I thank you for your assistance.

Yours sincerely.

Dr John S. Partington
13 Little Street, Reading RG1 7PB
England. Tel. +118-9567731
Email: johnbarbara@partingtonghiringhelli.freeserve.co.uk
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