The 4 prehistoric sites you absolutely must visit in the Dordogne
Holidays discovering prehistoric remains
The Dordogne department offers many archaeological sites to visit. Among them are the prehistoric sites of the Périgord Noir. So, which prehistoric sites should you absolutely not miss in one of the most natural regions of France: the Dordogne?
Font-de-Gaume
Located in the former commune of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, the Font-de-Gaume cave contains remains from the end of the Paleolithic era. It features around 200 multicoloured animal representations, including bears, mammoths, reindeer and horses. These figures are still so well preserved that they appear as if they were painted yesterday. Open to visitors since the 1970s, the cave has undergone improvements to facilitate access. Car parks and facilities for visitors with reduced mobility have been installed.
Due to its size, the cave can only accommodate around thirty visitors at a time. To reserve a place, you simply need to go there, but we recommend arriving very early in the morning to avoid disappointment. It is also worth noting that the commune of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac is home to the National Museum of Prehistory, a visit not to be missed if you want to learn more about this era — it is the museum you should not miss in the Dordogne.
Rouffignac Cave
Located in the commune of Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac, between Bergerac and Sarlat, Rouffignac Cave is one of the largest decorated caves in Europe. With its vast galleries, the visit takes place aboard an electric train. Nicknamed the sanctuary of mammoths, the site contains no fewer than 150 depictions and paintings of mammoths dating from the Magdalenian period — in other words, around 13,000 years before our era. Like the Font-de-Gaume cave, the engravings are so realistic that visitors often feel they were created recently.
Castel-Merle
A few kilometres from the Montignac area lies the famous Castel-Merle valley. This site brings together rock shelters used by Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon humans. The cave wall paintings illustrate the way of life of these early humans. Their daily activities are also depicted on the walls. By exploring this site, visitors can imagine what life and society were like 85,000 years ago, during prehistoric times.
In addition to the visit, various activities are offered on site: cave painting workshops, spear-throwing demonstrations, flint knapping demonstrations and fire-lighting using Cro-Magnon techniques. These activities are especially enjoyable for younger visitors, much like the prehistoric parks of the Dordogne.
Lascaux: a journey through time
The Lascaux caves
The Lascaux cave (the original prehistoric site), discovered in September 1940, quickly became one of the most visited sites in the world. Located in the Montignac-Lascaux area, it is often nicknamed the “Versailles of Prehistory”. The cave contains numerous wall representations of animals and early human activities. Composed of several “chambers”, each is dedicated to different animal figures. In addition to these paintings, archaeologists found tools belonging to Cro-Magnon humans, such as lamps, scrapers, burins, burners and spearheads. For conservation reasons and to protect the wall paintings, the original cave was permanently closed to the public in 1963.
To compensate for the closure: the replicas Lascaux II and III
Lascaux II is the first replica, created in 1983 to compensate for the closure of the original cave. It reproduces the Hall of the Bulls and also offers two exhibition areas explaining the history of the cave and the techniques used by prehistoric artists.
Lascaux III is a travelling replica. “Lascaux Revealed” is a touring exhibition that brings the cave around the world and gives visitors a taste of the Dordogne.
Lascaux IV
The latest replica, Lascaux IV, is a complete reproduction of the original cave. Created by the Ateliers des Fac-similés du Périgord, it combines authenticity and digital technology for total immersion in prehistoric times.