Experience an unforgettable full-day private tour from Sarlat, starting with a convenient pick-up from your hotel or accommodation. Our English-speaking driver guide will provide you with a detailed program and itinerary for this highly recommended excursion, which includes a fascinating museum visit, a captivating cave exploration, and a visit to the brand new Lascaux IV museum. Hop on board our comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle as we embark on a journey to Les Eyzies de Tayac, the World Prehistory capital.
Explore the National Prehistory Museum
Delve into the captivating world of prehistoric art that dates back 15,000 years B.C. The Dordogne region is home to extraordinary cave paintings, drawings, and etchings created by unknown artists. This tour introduces you to this mesmerizing art and the people behind it.
Begin your day in Les Eyzies de Tayac with a guided visit to the National Prehistory Museum. Established in 2004, the museum showcases a staggering collection of 18,000 pieces and six million artifacts. Its origins trace back to 1913 when the tenacious researcher Denis Peyrony persuaded the French state to acquire the Château des Eyzies, transforming it into an excavation warehouse and museum.
Discover the world's largest collection of prehistoric artifacts as your guide takes you through the main chapters of Hominids' development, including a fascinating anthropological frieze and an overview of Africa's history, beginning with the early Australopithecus. Immerse yourself in the museum's permanent exhibit galleries, which unfold seven sequences, providing an ideal historiography of the entire Paleolithic era.
Visit La Roque Saint Christophe
La Roque Saint-Christophe is an extraordinary troglodyte site carved into a kilometer-long, 80-meter-high limestone cliff above the Vézère Valley in the Dordogne. Inhabited for over 55,000 years, from prehistoric hunter-gatherers to medieval townsfolk, the site is considered a world reference in cliff side and rock-shelter architecture.
The natural caves of La Roque Saint-Christophe provided one of Europe’s largest and most enduring natural shelters, first used by Neanderthals and continuing through Cro-Magnon times and into recorded history. Archaeological remains indicate intensive occupation from the mid-Paleolithic through to the Iron Age and Gallo-Roman era, reflecting an unbroken continuity of human settlement.
Enjoy Lunch in a Local Restaurant (at own expense)
Take advantage of your free time during lunch to savor local cuisine at a recommended restaurant in Montignac or a charming village in the Dordogne region. Your guide will be happy to offer suggestions.
Visit Lascaux IV Cave Complex
Next, we'll continue to Montignac, where you'll explore the remarkable Lascaux IV cave, opened to the public in December 2016. This extraordinary replica faithfully reproduces the original cave, offering an immersive experience in the discovery of its famous decorations.
But the adventure doesn't end there. The site also delves into Lascaux's significance in cave art and its connection to contemporary creation. The International Center for Cave Art marks the beginning of an exciting journey that combines the emotional impact of ancestral art with remarkable technological achievements.
Follow a guided tour led by a local expert, and then take your time to explore the exhibitions and the center for prehistoric cave art.
Return to Sarlat, leaving you with lasting memories of this extraordinary journey into the depths of history. Book your private tour today for an unforgettable exploration of the region's prehistoric wonders.
