Prehistoric sites and Prehistory in the Dordogne
The Dordogne, and in particular the Vézère valley (known as the Valley of Man), is world-renowned for its prehistoric treasures.
You can discover deposits, living sites, painted or engraved caves, troglodyte sites, shelters, museums and theme parks.
In this section, we have grouped together all the tourist attractions related to the theme of Prehistory.
National Museum of Prehistory
More than 18,000 artifacts in a completely new museum layout
Housed in the former Château des Eyzies de Taillac since 1911, nestled into the cliff overlooking the village. The National Museum of Prehistory is…
Cougnac Caves
Cougnac Caves: Authentic Prehistoric Drawings Amid the Stalactites and Stalagmites
The Cougnac Caves site consists of two caves located 200 meters apart.
Cap Blanc Shelter
A carved bestiary from the Magdalenian period
The Cap Blanc shelter is located in the municipality of Marquay , east of Les Eyzies; it is a site managed by the National Monuments Agency that was discovered in…
Roque Saint Christophe
La Roque Saint-Christophe: Fort and Trology City
Halfway between LES EYZIES and MONTIGNAC-LASCAUX, the cliff of ROQUE SAINT CHRISTOPHE rises steeply above the Vézère River.
Combarelles Cave
More than 800 Magdalenian rock engravings, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Combarelles Cave, located at the bottom of a small valley on the outskirts of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil in the Dordogne, on the road to Sarlat, is a major sanctuary…
Cave of Villars
A cave decorated with prehistoric paintings and stalactites and stalagmites.
Villars 's Cave is the only cave in the Périgord region to contain both original prehistoric paintings and stalactites and stalagmites. The underground river has carved out…
Prehistoric Mirror Maze
Surprise Cro-Magnon in his incredible mirror maze
Come and surprise Cro Magnon for real! Become explorers and go on an expedition in search of the last living Cro Magnon.
Thot Park
Extend Your Prehistory Experience
At Parc du Thot, located in Thonac , in the Dordogne, immerse yourself in the world of Cro-Magnon man and his fascinating relationship with the animal species of…
Roc de Cazelle Caves
Prehistory, History, and Nature in the Land of Man
Come discover the Roc de Cazelle Caves, a captivating prehistoric park where you can see reenactments of the lives of our distant ancestors…
Lascaux 4 International Center for Cave Art
Lascaux International Center for Cave Art (Lascaux 4)
Lascaux IV, the International Center for Cave Art, houses a complete replica of the famous Lascaux Cave, discovered in 1940. This reconstruction allows visitors to…
Laugerie Basse Shelter
Prehistoric site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Welcome to the Prehistoric Shelters of Laugerie Basse, an exceptional site inhabited by humans as early as the Magdalenian period, between 15,000 and 10,000 years ago…
Rouffignac Cave
The Cave of the Hundred Mammoths
Located in the town of Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin in the Périgord Noir region, the Rouffignac Cave—formerly known as “Cro de Granville”—is one of the…
Le Regourdou
The Neanderthal Man Shrine
The extraordinary story of the Regourdou begins in 1954, when Roger Constant, the owner of a farm near the Lascaux Cave, began excavations on his…
Bara-Bahau Cave
The Bear Sanctuary
The Bara-Bahau (or Bara-Bao) cave, some 100 m long, is one of the Palaeolithic caves in the Vézère valley (Dordogne, France).
Commarque Castle
The Mysteries of the Forgotten Fortress
Overlooking the Beune Valley, the Château de Commarque was built to protect the Benedictine Abbey of Sarlat at the end of…
The Village of La Madeleine
A 17,000-year-old space-time rift—perfect for the whole family!
An exceptional natural site—one of the best-preserved in the Vézère Valley—the village of La Madeleine has attracted people since prehistoric times…
Font de Gaume Cave
One of the most beautiful Paleolithic sanctuaries in the world
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Font-de-Gaume is a decorated cave and one of the world’s most beautiful Paleolithic sanctuaries still open to the…