Choose from 2 Fun Things to Do in Bergerac
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Lascaux Caves II (Grotte de Lascaux II)
Home to some of the most famous and best-preserved ancient cave paintings in the world, the Lascaux caves are an archeological marvel, hidden away in the Vézère Valley. While you won’t be able to visit the original UNESCO-listed cave—it’s closed to the public for preservation—you can take a guided tour of the spectacular Lascaux Caves II.
The Basics
Visitors to the Lascaux Caves II can admire 600 finely recreated paintings, which took 20 artists over 11 years to complete. You’ll find them displayed in two galleries: the Great Hall of the Bulls (Salle des Taureaux) and the Axial Gallery (Diverticule Axial). Travelers frequently combine a Lascaux Caves visit with a visit to the nearby Rouffignac Cave or the National Prehistory Museum in Les Eyzies de Tayac.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Lascaux Caves II can only be visited as part of a guided tour and tour times vary throughout the year.
- The caves are not currently accessible to wheelchair users, but the Montignac-Lascaux International Centre for Cave Art is accessible.
How to Get There
The Lascaux Caves II can be found just south of Montignac village in the Dordogne region of France. There’s no public transportation to the cave, but it’s possible to take a taxi from Montignac.
When to Get There
The Lascaux Caves II are open all year round, but tours may be limited in the winter months, so it’s best to book in advance. In the peak summer season, opt for an early morning or late afternoon tour if you want to avoid the busiest periods.
The Mysteries of the Lascaux Caves
Discovered deep underground in 1940, the Lascaux Caves II had been sealed away from the world since the Paleolithic Age some 19,000 years ago. Inside its seven different subterranean halls, you’ll find free-flowing images of cows, bears, unicorns, bison, horses, mammoths, and human figures. While nobody knows the original purpose of the caves, theories suggest that they may have had religious significance, rather than being domestic dwellings, as no Stone Age tools or evidence of fire were ever found at the site.
Address: Lieu-dit Lascaux, Montignac, France
Admission: Varies
From $ 162
National Prehistoric Museum (Mus ee National de Pr ehistoire)
Aquitaine’s National Prehistoric Museum was founded in 1918 by Denis Peyrony on the des Eyzies-de-Tayac commune, in the very heart of the UNESCO Valley of Mankind and prehistoric capital of the world. The site as well as its collections are rich in history. It holds one of France’s most important Paleolithic collections including the first global set of Paleolithic art on engraved or carved blocks.
The museum’s displays enable visitors to see the oldest traces of life left by mankind and to understand the evolution of societies over the last 400 millennia. Objects on display include stone tools, art objects made of bone or ivory, and life-size imitations of prehistoric humans and extinct animals. The museum was expanded in 2004.
Practical Info
The museum is located on Rue du Musée in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac Sireuil. It is just 45 kilometers away from Périgueux-Sarlat and can be reached in half an hour via D47. It is open every day from 9:30am until 6:30pm in July and August as well as June and September with the exception that Tuesdays are closed. It is also open from 9:30am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 5:30pm between October and May. Last admission is 45 minutes before closure. The visit costs €6 / €4.50 (full rate / reduced rate) and is free on the first Sunday of every month. The museum is fully accessible to those with reduced mobility.
Address: 1 Rue du Musée, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes 24620, France
Hours: July to August: daily 9:30am – 6:30pm; June & September: Wedneday-Monday from 9:30am – 6pm; October to May: Wednesday-Monday 9:30am – 12:30pm & 2pm – 5:30pm; Closed December 25 and January 1st
Admission: Full rate: €6; Reduced rate: €4.50
From $ 162