The Dordogne, cradle of prehistory

Visiting prehistoric or concretion caves is a must in Périgord Noir. Whether it's hot or bad weather, the coolness of the cavities is appreciated.

The Vézère valley, north of Sarlat, concentrates the majority of the sites. The village of Les Eyzies is home to the National Museum of Prehistory.

During your stopover in our holiday village with swimming pool in Sarlat, dive into the heart of prehistory, by visiting these remarkable sites.

Périgord and its styles of caves

The luxury of the Dordogne is that you can admire different types of caves. The most famous are the decorated caves including Lascaux but also Font de Gaume or Bara-Bahau.

The Périgord is also rich in prehistoric shelters in the rock. You can visit the site of La Madeleine, Roc de Cazelle, La Roque Saint Christophe or Le Conquil.

Finally, be amazed by the chasms and caves with concretions. Discover the Proumeyssac chasm and the caves of Maxanges, Cougnac or Grand Roque.

Lascaux cave

The Grotte of Lascaux, 30 minutes from Sarlat is the emblem of parietal art. Its various frescoes represent around 600 animals (horses, bulls, stags, felines) and mysterious symbols.

This exceptional and modernized place consists of a complete replica of the original cave, screening rooms and a large room to learn even more about Lascaux strong>.

Parietal art holds no secrets for children who, thanks to their age-appropriate tablet, learn while having fun. Test the 3D virtual tour to see every corner.

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La Roque-Saint-Christophe

This ancient fortress of Dordogne is carved into the rock overlooking the Vézère. The view over the valley is magnificent. The village of La Roque Saint Christophe had its own defense system and a church.

The models make it possible to understand the organization of troglodyte villages in the Middle Ages. Follow the guide to see the civil engineering machines in operation. These were used to haul up livestock, building materials or wine barrels.

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The Caves of Cougnac

In the lot, very close to the border with the Dordogne, the caves of Cougnac combine concretions and parietal art. These are 2 caves that were discovered in 1949 and 1952.

In the first cavity you can admire the ceiling of stalagtites, the columns and the draperies highlighted by the lighting.

At the heart of the second cave, at the turn of the concretions, you will discover the decorated gallery, classified as a historical monument. Our ancestors represented stags, mammoths and ibexes.

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