Prehistoric Caves, Rock Shelters and Dwellings in the Vezere Valley
The limestone caves along the Vézère offer some of the most interesting and important
prehistoricsites in the world, making it the birthplace of European humanity. Were these
caves a sanctuary where prehistoric people worshipped the animals they admired or were
they just "art galleries" where the more artistic let their talent run wild? Why did they
choose to decorate these caves and not others? Whatever the answers, we are left in no
doubt about one or two things: our Ancestors showed great taste when they chose to stop
in the Périgord and there is much to learn about them just by looking at the fabulous legacy
they left for us in the caves along the Vézère.
Lascaux
This is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world. It was discovered in 1940 by 4 boys searching for
their dog, and was first opened to the public in 1947. Due to the very significant damage caused by the large
number of visitors, it was closed again in 1963. Lascaux II, near Montignac, is a faithful reproduction of the original Lascaux caves. In order to understand better how and why Lascaux had to be copied, the Parc Préhistorique of Le Thôt should be visited first. Prehistoric artists made such clever use of the natural shape of the rock and of the wonderful natural earthy colours they found around them, you cannot help but admire their talent. Read MoreRégourdou.. It is situated a few hundred yards from Lascaux. A skeleton of Neandarthal Man was discovered here.
La Roque-Saint-Christophe
This is a most fascinating place; this large natural terrace was first inhabited approximately 70,000 years ago. It has provided shelter for man through the ages. In the 10th century the Bishop of Périgueux had the cave fortified to stop the Vikings from sailing on the Vézère. You can see the remains of a whole village and imagine what it was like when 1500 people were living in it. Read More
Le Moustier
The importance of the cave site of Le Moustier lies not in the partial skeleton located there, but in the tool assemblage recovered, which gives the name to the "Mousterian" tool tradition. The Mousterian tradition is characterized by flake tools that were detached from of a prepared stone core. This technique allowed flakes of predetermined shape to be removed and fashioned into tools from a single suitable stone. This technology differs from earlier "core tool" traditions, such as the Acheulean of Homo erectus, in which a suitable stone was "reduced down" to a tool form by removal of flakes off the surface. Read More
Rouffignac
This cave offers some very fine drawings of Mammoths and of the woolly rhinoceros among others. These paintings date back to 12,000 years ago. This cave is so large that there is a little electric train to take you around. Read More
La Madeleine
This shelter, near Tursac, has revealed a child skeleton and some "furniture" 10,000 years old. It is closed to the public but the "Cave Fort" should be visited. It was used through the ages to live in at first and later as a hiding place.
Les Eyzies de Tayac
It is regarded as the best prehistoric centre in the world and must be visited. The National Prehistory Museum, situated in the Château, is a very fascinating place and so are the troglodyte dwellings and the caves
Cro-Magnon shelter ( Les Eyzies )
Five skeletons of our ancestor, the Cro-Magnon Man, were discovered in this shelter. The skeletons were surrounded by jewels and shells. Read More
Font de Gaume
The cave of Font de Gaume with its beautiful paintings and carvings is definitely worth a visit, especially since this time, these are the original paintings. You can stop and wonder about our amazing ancestors who expressed their artistic inclinations so beautifully 17,000 years ago. Read More
Les Combarelles
Situated about a mile away from Font de Gaume, it is yet another fantastic cave with more fabulous rock carvings of animals and human beings. But this time they are only 10,000 years old.
The Grand Roc
In this cave we go further back in time to admire the secret work of an underground river, or perhaps of the sea. Magical but strange rock formations remind us of some exotic coral. Read More
