Prehistoric Caves, Rock Shelters and Dwellings in the Vezere Valley
The limestone caves along the Vézère offer some of the most interesting and important prehistoric sites 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.
** 30 min. drive from Ferme de Tayac **
Régourdou 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.
** 10 min. drive from Ferme de Tayac **
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
** 10 min. drive from Ferme de Tayac **
Rouffignac
The cave of Rouffignac is unique in many ways. First, it is about three miles from the Vèzére River; all the others are much closer. Secondly it is really long -several miles long. In order to see the artwork you join your guide on a small electric train that travels about half a mile into the cave.
** 10 min. drive from Ferme de Tayac **
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.
** 10 min. drive from Ferme de Tayac **
Les Eyzies de Tayac
In and around the town of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac are a series of prehistoric rock dwellings, the caves include some of the mostsignificant archaeological finds of the Upper Paleolithic (from about 40,000 to10,000 years ago) and Middle Paleolithic (200,000 to 40,000 years ago) periods;they are especially noted for their extensive wall drawings.
** 5 min. walk from Ferme de Tayac **
Cro Magnon shelter ( Les Eyzies de Tayac )
Five skeletons of our ancestor, the Cro-Magnon Man, were discovered in this shelter. The skeletons were surrounded by jewels and shells. It was here that the link was discovered between us ( modern man) and our Prehistoric ancestors the Neanderthal
** 3 min. walk from Ferme de Tayac **
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.
** 2 min. drive from Ferme de Tayac **
Les Combarelles
Discovered in 1901 by Louis Capitain Henri Breuil and Denis Peyrony, the engravings of Les Combarelles Cave made a major contribution to the acceptance of parietal art. Along with those of Font-de-Gaume Cave, discovered just a few days later, and those of La Mouthe, known since 1895, the parietal works of Les Combarelles convinced researchers who until then did not believe that prehistoric humans had the mental and technical capacities necessary to realize them.
** 3 min. drive from Ferme de Tayac **
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. The Grand Roc cave opened in 1927, following the discovery, 3 years were necessary to install the interior and the exterior of the cave. The first visitors only had candles, hence a quite picturesque visit, during which not much could be seen. Acetylene lamps came later and in 1934 the electricity was installed.
** 2 min. drive from Ferme de Tayac **
