"Where the Prehistoric Sites Are" Les Eyzies-de-Tayac by hquittner

At Eyzies we first drove to Font-de-Gaume in the early morning only to find that the limited morning tours were filled and so we reserved tickets for the later afternoon tour. We had anticipated this and so drove out to the Cave of Rouffignac where there were only a handful of other sightseers waiting for the morning visit. This visit was by open electric train over miles of cave sites. We ate lunch at a minimal inn near Tursac, then visited its Romanesque church and returned to Eyzies to visit the Prehistory Museum before returning to Font-de-Gaume. Before returning to our base in Sarlat we drove by the cliff La Roque St.-Christophe which we viewed from across the river Vezere because we felt we were too old for the modest climb required. (All Tips Below).

More Town

Les-Eyzies-de-Tayac (pop. 800) on the Vezere, is the hub around which the prehistoric sites are scattered, the most distant being Montignac, also on the Vezere (about 20 km North) near which Lascaux 2 is sited. Eyzies is only 20 km from Sarlat as well and thus all are easily reached by car. Access to the river and the nearby Dordogne is popular via rental services for canoes and kayaks, with pickup and return points arranged, so that these can be “float-trips” requiring no boating skills. Do not miss the Prehistory Museum.

• Pros:See Great Prehistoric Wall Paintings
• Cons:Getting In (Reservations) May Be Tricky
• In a nutshell:Worth the Planning