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Replica of the Cosquer cave

Cosquer Méditerranée

Marseille is a city rich in cultural and historical heritage, but did you know that it also boasts a veritable prehistoric treasure trove? Does the Cosquer cave ring a bell? We tell you all about this well-hidden nugget several dozen meters beneath the surface of the water.

The discovery of the Cosquer cave

Let’s start at the beginning. In 1985, Henri Cosquer, an experienced scuba diver with a passion for the underwater world, went diving in the Calanques, his vast playground. That day, he dived towards Cap de Morgiou, an area he was accustomed to surveying. At a depth of 36 metres, a cavity in the rock face caught his eye and he decided to explore it. It was the beginning of a great adventure for this man, who was about to make a major discovery that would turn his life upside down. At the end of this narrow, immersed gallery, some 175 meters long, he discovered a veritable treasure trove dating back 30,000 years: over 480 works of art painted or engraved on the rock, penguins, deer, ibex, bison, handprints and hearth marks.
After several trips back and forth over a period of 6 years, he brought his discovery to light. The cave was visited by our ancestors over a long period, from 33,000 BC to 19,000 BC. At that time, the sea was 120 meters below today’s level, with water several kilometers away. The climate was cold and the landscape was not the same as today.

In 1991, the cave was authenticated and revealed to the general public. A year later, it was classified as a historic monument. Since then, it has been studied by historians and researchers. Unfortunately, as the waters rise, the cave is doomed to disappear, with some of the paintings already partially submerged. The need to “bring out” this unique cave and share it with the world will become a priority. Today, the cave is inaccessible and its entrance has been sealed off.

A journey from prehistory to the present day

As with its big sister “La grotte Chauvet”, the company Kléber Rossillon was chosen to restore and operate the cave, in La Villa Méditerranée, on the esplanade of the J4. Faithful to the millimeter, Cosquer Méditerranée opened its doors on June 4, 2022. This jewel of prehistory will no longer hold any secrets for you.

In groups of six, visitors board “exploration modules” – self-contained wagons on rails – and follow a 35-minute circuit. Guided by silent infrared technology, the 220-metre tour is conducted in semi-darkness. The tour is accompanied by commentaries broadcast through synchronized audio headsets, enabling the visitor to gradually discover the ornate panels, including the famous horse panel and the walls of handprints.

During the visit to the cave, the illusion is intact: the silence, the temperature, the lighting, the presence of water, and of course, the quality of the overall rendering.
To complete this timeless journey, the Galerie de la Méditerranée invites visitors to discover 11 animal species represented on a scale of 1: bison, megaceros, cave lions and great penguins make up this unique bestiary.

The 3-level tour lasts around 2 hours. There’s also a snack bar, lockers and a gift store.

Come and discover one of the most beautiful testimonies to our past, right in the center of Marseille. Reserve your ticket now!

Practical information

Address

Villa Cosquer Méditerranée
Esplanade Robert Laffont, Marseille 2ème

Prices

Full price18€
Child6€

Opening hours

  • Monday 09:00 - 20:30
  • Tuesday 09:00 - 20:30
  • Wednesday 09:00 - 20:30
  • Thursday 09:00 - 20:30
  • Friday 09:00 - 20:30
  • Saturday 09:00 - 20:30
  • Sunday 09:00 - 20:30
  • Monday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Tuesday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Wednesday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Thursday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Friday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Saturday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Sunday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Monday 10:00 - 18:30
  • Tuesday 10:00 - 18:30
  • Wednesday 10:00 - 18:30
  • Thursday 10:00 - 18:30
  • Friday 10:00 - 18:30
  • Saturday 10:00 - 18:30
  • Sunday 10:00 - 18:30
  • Monday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Tuesday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Wednesday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Thursday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Friday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Saturday 09:30 - 19:30
  • Sunday 09:30 - 19:30
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How to get to Cosquer Méditerranée

By public transport
(from the Vieux-Port)

By subway
line 1, Vieux-Port stop, about 15 minutes on foot
line 2 Joliette stop, about 15 minutes on foot

By bus
Lines 82 and 82s (Mucem-St Jean stop)
Line 60 (Mucem-St Jean stop)
Line 49 (Mucem-St Jean stop)

By tramway
T2 or T3 (Joliette stop or Répulique-Dames stop) about 15 minutes on foot

Car parking

Parking Indigo Vieux-Port-Mucem

By bike or electric scooter

A LeVélo station is available on the Esplanade du J4 (near the parking lot entrance).
Electric scooters: Several scooter rental companies are available in Marseille (Bird, Voi and Lime).

Did you know?

The boat on which Henri Cosquer made his expeditions and with which he discovered the famous cave had a predestined name: Cro Magnon– a strange coincidence!

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