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Vezere Valley, Dordogne, and the prehistoric caves
The River Vézère flows 190 kilometres from its source in the Massif Central to its confluence with the Dordogne River near Le Bugue. In addition to the world renowned Lascaux caves, the Vézere Valley contains numerous other traces of prehistoric and early settlement - according to UNESCO - who have the valley listed as a UNESCO French world Heritage sites - there are 147 prehistoric sites and 25 painted caves in the valley.
The main prehistoric highlights of the Vézere Valley - often called the cradle of mankind - are found along the lower reaches of the river, between Montignac and Le Bugue, and centred around Les Eyzies de Tayac (usually called simply Les Eyzies).
Les Eyzies itself has little to offer the visitor, having long given itself over to tourism, but it does make a good base to explore the region. It does also have two interesting museums: the Musee National de Prehistoire and the Musée de l'Abri Pataud, which between them offer a good taste of the paraphernalia that has emerged from the surrounding countryside.
Personally I would base myself either south at le Bugue or north at Montignac or St Leon sur Vezere, or in one of the many villages dotted around the area, if I were visiting the region.
Some of the highlights of the region include:
Troglodyte dwellings at La Roque St Christophe
Paintings at the Grotte de Font de Gaume
Also well worth visiting are:
- The engravings at the Grotte des Combarelles
- Prehistoric sculpture at Abri du Cap Blanc
- The cave system and cave paintings at Grotte du Grand Roc
- The "most beautiful village" of Saint Leon sur Vézère (which I enthuse about in the section of this site devoted to most beautiful villages - see Saint-Leon-sur-Vézere).
Vezere valley: tourist information, map, travel plans and gites
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Bridge over River Vezere, in the Vezere Valley, Dordogne |
Visit Vézère, France
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Map of Vézère Valley, France |
Travel, hotels and holiday gites, Vezere Valley
See the Visit Vezere Valley section above for gites and hotels local to the area. For more general French travel options, see the Gites in France listings, or French holidays for other holidays, and Travel to France for ferries, Vezere Valley car-hire, eurotunnel, cheap flights etc.
Places to visit - Vezere Valley
- Beaumont-du-Perigord Dordogne bastide town
- Belves Most beautiful village
- Beynac Most beautiful village
- Chateau de Beynac Chateau
- Chateau de Castelnaud Chateau
- Chateau de Commarque Chateau
- Chateau des Milandes Chateau
- Domme Most beautiful village
- La Roque-Gageac Most beautiful village
- Le Bugue Dordogne town
- Les Eyzies Prehistory Centre
- Limeuil Most beautiful village
- Molieres Bastide town
- Monpazier Most beautiful village
- Montignac Town
- Perigueux Dordogne town
- Saint-Leon-sur-Vezere Most beautiful village
- Sarlat Renowned Dordogne town
- Terrasson Gardens of the Imagination
- Tremolat Renowned Dordogne viewpoint
- Vezere Valley World Heritage Site
- Villereal Bastide town
Any places listed above are within about 20-25 km (as the crow flies)
Information and photos of Vezere Valley, France
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