Halloween at the Aven d’Orgnac: chills and treats underground

For Halloween at the Aven d’Orgnac, families and little sorcerers meet every afternoon from 26 to 30 October to make a mask, hear terrifying tales underground and enjoy some treats. The programme takes place in Orgnac-l’Aven.

A workshop to make your own prehistoric sorcerer’s mask

At 2 pm, the mask workshop lasts about 1 hour 15 minutes and brings children and parents together. The aim is to make a prehistoric witch or sorcerer mask to complete the Halloween costume.

The idea comes from our ancestors, who also depicted strange half-human, half-animal figures in caves, which archaeologists call “sorcerers” or “shamans”. To look like them, participants cut leather with a flint, stick on feathers, prepare their own natural ink and draw patterns, so as to end up with a mask as extraordinary as it is terrifying.

A storytelling tour 50 metres underground by lantern light

At 3.45 pm, it is time for the storytelling tour « Frissons et friandises », which finishes at around 5.30 pm. The cave of the Aven d’Orgnac has kept its secrets well buried for thousands of years, and one of these terrible tales is told by the glow of lanterns, 50 metres below the surface.

The story is set in the first chamber of the cave, where blazing pumpkins and cauldrons full of sweets mark out the route.

Treasure hunt and toasted marshmallows at the Cité de la Préhistoire

The adventure carries on at the Cité de la Préhistoire. A treasure hunt leads participants to the cupboard of the abominable skeleton, whose treasure has to be stolen. This loot then becomes a snack: it is toasted in the prehistoric way to enjoy roasted marshmallows. Everyone is invited to come in their scariest costume.

Practical information: from age 5, limited places

Children are welcome from age 5 and must be accompanied by an adult. There is a single price of €16 for the workshop followed by the tour, and €11 for the tour alone. Booking is recommended: each day, 15 places are available for the workshop and tour package, and 40 for the tour only.