The Vézère valley contains 147 prehistoric sites dating from the Palaeolithic and 25 decorated caves. It is particularly interesting from an ethnological and anthropological, as well as an aesthetic point of view because of its cave paintings, especially those of the Lascaux Cave, whose discovery in 1940 was of great importance for the history of prehistoric art. The hunting scenes show some 100 animal figures, which are remarkable for their detail, rich colours and lifelike quality.Locations
Communes of Les Eyzies de Tayac, Tursac, Montignac-sur-Vézère, Saint-Leon-sur-Vézère, Marquay, Manaurie-Rouffignac and Saint-Cirq-du Bugue, Department of the Dordogne, Region of Aquitaine
N45 3 27 E1 10 12
Serial ID Number
Name & Location ↓
Coordinates
Area
Date Inscribed
85-001
Abri de Cro-Magnon
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 25.6 E1 00 34.6
0 Ha
1979
85-002
Abri du Poisson
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 38.8 E0 59 54.2
0 Ha
1979
85-012
Cro de Granville (cro de Rouffignac)
Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N45 00 31.7 E0 59 15.5
0 Ha
1979
85-003
Font de Gaume
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 13.2 E1 01 35.6
0 Ha
1979
85-015
La Madeleine
Tursac, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 58 01.3 E1 02 11.1
0 Ha
1979
85-004
La Micoque
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 57 27.6 E1 00 23.5
0 Ha
1979
85-005
La Mouthe
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 55 28.9 E1 01 14.1
0 Ha
1979
85-011
Lascaux
Montignac, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N45 03 13.3 E1 10 12.0
0 Ha
1979
85-006
Laugerie basse
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 57 03.8 E0 59 57.5
0 Ha
1979
85-007
Laugerie haute
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 57 11.8 E1 00 12.3
0 Ha
1979
85-010
Le Cap Blanc
Marquay, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 44.3 E1 05 50.6
0 Ha
1979
85-008
Le Grand Roc
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 58.2 E0 59 54.0
0 Ha
1979
85-014
Le Moustier
Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 59 39.6 E1 03 35.5
0 Ha
1979
85-009
Les Combarelles
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 36.8 E1 02 31.6
0 Ha
1979
85-013
Roc de Saint-Cirq
Saint-Cirq, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 55 33.9 E0 58 02.9
0 Ha
1979
Theory
The Vézère Valley is on a limestone plateau in Southwestern France. It is home to several hidden calcareous caves. This is Lascaux Cave, the most well known. These drawings here date back to the Paleolithic period around 17,000 years ago. The cave was closed in 1972 for preservation work.Subsequently decorated grottoes of the Vézère Valley including this Lascaux cave have been inscribed on the list of World Heritage. In this drawing, the front foot of the horse was drawn over the bulky rock surface to give a solid impression. The technique is used to express a galloping horse. This drawing of cattle has many layers. The front red figure is a cow, and behind her is black ox with large horns.
Why did man start to draw? Dr. Michel Lorblanchet has proposed a new theory through practical archaeology that takes account of the painting materials and artistic techniques of the time. He put charcoal in his mouth and sprays it onto the wall, exactly as people during the Paleolithic period used to do. By blowing onto the rocks, they believed that it would breathe life into something inside it. People in those days believed that some kind of supernatural power existed inside the rocks. They tried to capture this great power by projecting images of wild animals onto them. Signs of human imagination have been found here. This unicorn is drawn on the closest wall from the entrance of the Lascaux cave.
People stopped painting in these caves about 10000 years ago. Once they had mastered the skills of stock farming, they started to regard themselves as superior to other animals and with that change the Great Spirit in the caves was gradually forgotten.
Recommended accommodation to explore the Vezere Valley:
B&B Ferme de Tayac. Lovely B&B in a 12th Century former farmhouse / monastery situated ideally in the hart of the Vezere Valley in Les Eyzies de Tayac, the Prehistoric Capital of the world.http://www.fermedetayac.com/
