Montignac

Visit Montignac, Aquitaine

This pretty village on the Vézère River is most famous for being home to the Lascaux Caves (and Lascaux II caves).

However the village itself is well worth an exploration especially for the  attractive balconied houses along the river front, and a walk up above the town giving splendid views of the town, the river and the ruined castle.

Exploring Montignac

Head first for the tourist office and pick up their map which shows a route around town which includes all the main highlights. It is also next to the ticket office for Lascaux caves and so you can buy your tickets at the same time.

The tourist office is in the ancient (13th century) Hopital of Saint Jean l'Evangeliste and opposite is the Prieure Saint Georges which is now home to an exhibition space for local arts and crafts.

The highlight of the village is probably the lovely houses on the edge of the river. These have balconies on their top floor built out of wood and raised on wooden beams. Some are enclosed and some open giving their owners fabulous places to sit overlooking the river.  Also on the river is the attractive, old stone bridge built in 1766. The original wooden bridge was burnt by the protestants in 1580 and then its replacement swept away by floods.

The rue de la Pègerie which was once the most import in Montignac and it was here that the main shops and houses for wealthy tradesmen were located. Most buildings on Rue de la Pegerie date to the 14th century and many are half timber buildings with mullion windows. No. 1 Rue de la Pegerie is thought to have belonged to Jeanne d'Albret, mother of Henri IV.

The Chateau de Montignac sits on a small hill in the middle of  town. It was once a very important castle in the region, but is now largely in ruins. There is really only a tower and a few walls remaining.

The church of St Pierre contains a painting by Juan Sanchez-Cotan who worked with Greco. The painting is called the 'Death of Saint Bruno'.

Each year at the end of July Montignac  is host to the Festival of Folklore de Montignac.

It is of course the Lascaux caves that you will want to visit when you are at Montignac. The Pole International de la Préhistoire (exhibition about Prehistory) is in the Hopital of Saint Jean l'Evangeliste along with the tourist office.

Places to Visit near Montignac

Near to Montignac are the Chateau de Losse and at Le Thot there is an exhibition dedicated to Cro-Magnon man. It includes a reproduction of some paintings from Lascaux which are not on view at Lascaux 11.

See Aquitaine and Dordogne (the region and department for Montignac) for more travel ideas...

Photos of Montignac

Click any picture to start the gallery

Suggested places to visit near Montignac, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: La-Roque-Saint-Christophe 11km; Terrasson 13km; Chateau de Commarque 17km; Chateau de Puymartin 17km; Font-de-Gaume 18km; Les Eyzies 18km; Sarlat 20km; Chateau de Hautefort 21km; Chateau de Montfort 23km; Saint-Cyprien 24km; Le Bugue 25km;

Montignac tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Jardins du château de Losse - remarkable garden (5km) : Abbaye de Saint Amand de Coly (Saint-Amand-de-Coly) - religious monument (7km) : Eglise de Saint Léonce (Saint-Leon-sur-Vezere) - religious monument (9km) : Jardins de l'Imaginaire - remarkable garden (13km) : Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac - remarkable garden (16km) : Decorated caves of the Vezere Valley - national monument (18km) : Grotte du Grand Roc - site of natural beauty (18km) : Cathédrale Saint-Sardos (Sarlat) - religious monument (20km) :

See more places and a map at places near Montignac