Unesco heritage sites

The Vézère valley, granted pole status by UNESCO

The Vézère valley includes 147 galleries and 25 decorated caves. The wide ethnological, anthropological and aesthetic interest shown in this group of sites more than justifies its UNESCO listing. The parishes included in the listing are: Les Eyzies de Tayac, Tursac, Montignac-sur-Vézère (Lascaux), Saint-Leon-sur-Vézère, Marquay, Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac, Saint-Cirq-du-Bugue.

The sites in the Vézère Valley in Dordogne-Périgord were registered among the World Heritage of the humanity by the UNESCO in 1979.

“Abri de Cro Magnon”

It is a rock shelter where the Cro-Magnon skeleton was discovered . It is located in Dordogne-Périgord, in the Eyzies de Tayac, the world Capital of Prehistoric times.

"Abri du Poisson"

The shelter is situated in the Eyzies, along the Vézère. Its name comes from a fish shape bas relief (salmon). This fish representation is the oldest one all over the world.

"Font de Gaume"

In the Eyzies, The Font de Gaume Caves is one of the unique original prehistoric painted caves still open to the public. This visit must be an exceptional moment during your holidays in Périgord

"La Micoque"

La Micoque is one of the oldest  sites located in the Vézère Valley. Thanks to its stratigraphy, you are able to go back in time- as far as 300000 years ago

"Laugerie Basse"

From the Neolithic to the Middle Ages Time, Men lived in this shelter

"Laugerie Haute"

Laugerie Haute is one of the most important shelters in the Vézère Valley in the Eyzies. There, You can discover many flints and magnificient works on bones.

"Le Grand Roc"

It is a crystallization cave situated in the Eyzies

"Grottes de Combarelles"

The cave is situated in the Eyzies. There, you can discover plenty of engravings created by the Cro Magnons. Some Simplistic Human representations can be found as well.

"Abri de Cap Blanc"

The Cap Blanc shelter is situated a few kilometers from the Eyzies. It is well known thanks to the important bestiary carved by Cro Magnon.

"Lascaux"

Discovered on 12th September 1940, Lascaux is one of the most spectacular collections of wall art all over the world.  In 1948 the cave was open to visitors but quickly, it became a victim of its own success and had to be closed to the public in 1963.  The Cave was called “the Sistine Chapel of prehistory” because of the monumental frescoes covering more than 150 metres of galleries.  In 1983 a facsimile Lascaux II, was open to the public which contains the majority of the original prehistoric paintings. You must not miss The lascaux cave guided tour if you are interested in Prehistoric Times.

"Cro de Granville or Grotte de Rouffignac" – Rouffignac Cave

It is the largest painted cave in the Périgord. Known as «  The cave of the Hundred Mammoths », it refers to the numerous mammoth engravings made by Cro Magnon.

"Grotte de Saint-Cirq or Sorcerer Cave"

Cro-Magnon carved many different animals on the wall. One of these engravings, a human representation is very impressive ( Le Sorcier – know as the sorcerer) .

“Le Moustier”

There, you can find 2 Neanderthal graves which are really well-preserved. It's an Eponymous site of the Mousterian.

"La Madeleine"

It is an Eponymous site of Magdalenian Times. This site is a hint of the long presence of Humans in the Vézère Valley