The Vezere Valley

The Vézère Valley (plus Prehistory Tour)

In the land of Cro-Magnon man... about 70km starting from Sarlat

> Route 1: D704 direction BRIVE, MONTIGNAC. At Montignac: Lascaux II, facsimile of the famous Grotte de Lascaux, often called the” Sistine Chapel of the Prehistoric Age”. Visit the site of Regourdu (800m above the Grottes de Lascaux).

Go back to the village and take direction LES EYZIES.

D706 after 5km, visit Château de Losse (15th century): period furniture and Renaissance, terraced gardens. On the hill opposite: Le Thot (facsimiles of the Grotte de Lascaux with animal park).

Go to SAINT LEON SUR VEZERE. Go through this charming village classified one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France: 12th century Romanesque church with lauze tiled roof, the château de Cléranx (15th century), the manor house de la Salle (16th century).
Visit le Conquil – dinosaur park (troglodytic shelters and adventure park in the trees).

Only a few kilometres away visit La Roque St-Christophe: troglodytic fort and city inhabited from prehistoric times up to the end of the Middle Ages.

Direction TURSAC. Visit the Troglodytic Village de la Madeleine, site eponymous with the Magdalenian Age. Visit the Préhisto-Parc, prehistoric park retracing the life of our ancestors from Neanderthal to Cro-Magnon man.   Further on, discover the Maison Forte de Reignac: a fully furnished château built into the cliff face above the river Vézère.

Continue to EYZIES, the capital of prehistory in the world. The village alone is full of sites to visit: The National Museum of Prehistory, (Musée National de la Préhistoire), Font de Gaume caves (polychrome paintings) and the Combarelles (engravings), Abri Pataud – (prehistoric site and museum), Grotte du Grand Roc (natural cave with crystallizations), the Micoque, Moustier, Ferrassie and Laugerie Haute prehistoric sites and the Jardins de la Licorne (medieval style garden).

Then, take direction LE BUGUE. On the way, at Saint Cirq visit the Grotte Préhistorique du Sorcier (engravings).  LE BUGUE: Grotte de Bara-Bahau (containing a large number of engravings). The Aquarium du Perigord Noir (fresh water fish, sub-aqua diving displays, iguana park), the Village de Bournat (reconstitution of an authentic Perigourdian village with craft workshops, animations and numerous games for children).
3km away, the Gouffre de Proumeyssac (also called the Crystal Cathedral of Perigord) and it’s numerous concretions which decorate the walls of this enormous underground vaulted cave.

> Route 2: On leaving EYZIES, go back towards SARLAT on the D47. After a few kms, visit the Grottes du Roc de Cazelle: caves and shelters occupied from prehistory to the middle-ages, botanic circuit, activities. 
Continue towards MARQUAY. Visit Château de Commarque (12th, 14th, and 15th century): perfect example of a medieval fortress. Then towards SIREUIL to visit the prehistoric shelter of Cap Blanc (very beautiful sculptured frieze in high and bas relief).
Take the road for Sarlat. At SAINT ANDRE D’ALLAS, visit the Cabanes du Breuil (rich collection of dry stone walled shelters). Further on, the Château du Puymartin (13th, 15th and 19th century) with furnished interior decorated with remarkable tapestries.

> Route 3: On leaving MONTIGNAC, head towards TERRASSON, then to CONDAT direction HAUTEFORT. Visit the Château and its French gardens.
Return to CONDAT-LE-LARDIN by the D704 then take direction TERRASSON. Visit the Jardins de l’Imaginaire (contemporary gardens in more than 6 hectares of terraced land). COLY, ST AMAND DE COLY also classed amongst the Most Beautiful Villages of France). Visit the fortified church. Return to SARLAT via ST GENIES.

* Sites open to visitors

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