Les Eyzies

Les Eyzies de Tayac is considered the prehistoric capital of the world. The caves in the cliff that towers above the town were home to prehistoric man who took shelter here during the second Ice Age. People lived here for tens of thousands of years. Archaeologists have uncovered flints, pottery, jewelry, and skeletons that have been identified as those of Cro-Magnon man found in the cave behind the hotel of the same name. Visit the Musée National de la Préhistoire in the 11th-century castle set high on the cliff beneath the overhanging rock, guarded by the gigantic sculpture of Cro-Magnon man. Also on its outskirts are two very famous caves that one can still visit, Font de Gaume and Les Combarelles. On the outskirts of town, the Font de Gaume cave has prehistoric wall paintings of horses, bison, mammoths, and reindeer with colors still so rich that it is hard to comprehend the actual passage of time. The caves are a bit damp and dark and entail a steep 400-meter climb to reach the entrance. The grotto is deep, winding, and narrow in parts. There are some 230 drawings, of which about 30 are presented and discussed. Displayed in three tiers, some drawings are marred by graffiti, others are not clearly visible as the walls tower above the floor of the cave. Entrance is limited to 200 people per day but you can make reservations in advance by calling the tourist office in Les Eyzies (tel: 05.53.06.97.05, fax: 05.53.06.90.79). There is a small additional charge for advance booking. With the closure of more caves each year, it is uncertain how much longer the opportunity to visit Font de Gaume will continue. (Open all year.) A short distance from Font de Guam is Les Combarelles, a cave discovered in 1901. The entrance is about a 100-meter (level) walk from the car park. The cave is a winding passage with engravings of mammoth, ibex, bears, reindeer, bison, and horses—and man in the last 70 meters. Entrance is limited to 140 visitors per day and the cave is closed every Wednesday. Advance booking and hours of opening are identical to Font de Gaume.