Praticals informations

The Lazaret cave : in search of our past

Filled with sediments more than seven metres thick putting its age somewhere between 190,000 and 120,000 years old, covering almost a whole glacial cycle, the Lazaret cave – property of the departmental council and listed as an historic monument in 1963 – is a prehistoric site of international scientific and cultural interest. This is an important spot for world prehistory, based on a trans-disciplinary approach to increase knowledge and understanding of:

• The emergence of the classic forms of Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) on the Mediterranean coast and more generally in Europe.
• The evolution of subsistence strategies developed by prehistoric humans during glacial periods.  
• The evolution of the material cultures of these prehistoric populations (typology and technology of stone tools during the transition between the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic).
• The evolution of social behaviour (cognition) in the ancient settlements of Southern Europe.
• The evolution of palaeobiodiversity (fauna and flora), climates, environments and the dynamics of interactions between prehistoric humans and their habitat on the Mediterranean coast throughout a glacial cycle.

Practical information

33 bis boulevard Franck Pilatte, 06300 Nice, France

Phone: +33(0)4.89.04.36.00

E-mail: lazaret@departement06.fr

Plan your visit

Grotte du Lazaret opening hours (summer 2019, until September 30):

• Monday: closed
• Tuesday: closed
• Wednesday: 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.
• Thursday: 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Sunday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

From midday to 2 p.m. admission is free for all visitors.

Guided tours at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

3 EUR per adult, 1.5 EUR for seniors (60 years old), children (16 years old), students and groups (10 people)

Grotte du Lazaret closed:

• January 1, 2019
• May 1, 2019
• December 25, 2019