Why is Périgord the country of the Cro Magnon man?
The Dordogne and in particular the Vézère valley (known as the Man's Valley) is world famous for its prehistoric riches. You will discover the famous Cave of Lascaux, as well as the PIP (International pole of Prehistory) and many theme parks on the prehistoric period and even folklore sometimes obliges on the dinosaurs.
In fact there were certainly no more prehistoric men in the Dordogne than elsewhere. It is possible, however, that our people were attracted by favorable conditions, offering the essential resources: game, fish, fruit and berries and flint for the manufacture of the tools of which the Périgord abounds.
But the abundance of Remains In Périgord is explained on the one hand by the geological environment which allowed Conservation Excellent Remains In caves and sub-rock shelters where the limestone white rock protected them from the elements of erosion or human and on the other hand by the abundant research and studies that have fuelled our knowledge for more than 150 years.
Sometimes you just have to look to find...
In the valley of the Vézère (also called the Valley of Man) which owes its name to the river that crosses it, is one of the most impressive collection of prehistoric world sites: deposits, places of life, painted or engraved caves or sites Troglodytes. Fifteen of these places have been enrolled in the UNESCO World heritage.
Lascaux International Center of parietal Art
The Cave of Lascaux is the most famous of the caves adorned by the Paleolithic by the number and the aesthetic quality of its works. It is dubbed "the Sistine Chapel of parietal art"
The paintings and engravings it contains have not been subject to specific direct dates: their age is estimated to be between about 18 000 and 17 000 years.
La Roque Saint Christophe: an exceptional troglodyte site
A majestic site overlooking the Vézère valley, perched at dozens of feet high, a long notch in the cliff that has sheltered men since the dawn of time.
You will discover reenactments of prehistoric scenes, a forge, a medieval kitchen, equipment used for the development of the site through the eras
To know everything, Discover the detailed page of La Roque Saint Christophe
An engraved cave:: Bara Bahau
The cave of Bara-Bahau (or Bara-Bao), one hundred metres long, is one of the ornate caves of the Vézère Valley.
It is of geological interest, particularly by its eccentric concretions, and predominantly prehistoric, by the wall engravings it contains. It takes its name from a local Occitan onomatopoeia which means "Badaboum" in reference to collapsed blocks visible in the first room. Learn more about the
You want to discover the sites of The prehistory theme in the Dordogne, you will find them in the following topics: