Sights in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil — 11 of Our Favourites

An important site, since engravings and painting of fish are incredibly rare in Stone Age art. It's most significant engraving is of a one metre long becquart salmon in the ceiling. The image has been there for some 25,000 years and is one of the oldest known fish carvings in the world.

Second only to those found in the caves at Lascaux, they contain over 200 paintings dating back to approximately 15,000 BC. Most incredible is the freeze of five bison discovered by accident during cleaning. These are some of the best known examples of prehistoric art still open to the public. 

There are some great multi media exhibits, with good English translations, making this museum a worthwhile stop in gaining understanding of pre-history and evolution. There are plenty of interactive games and displays to keep the kids interested too and they run workshops at particular times of the year which are good for both adults nad children.

The space includes the display areas, shop, exhibitions, a 230 seat auditorium and an education and animation area.

Thanks to the different archaeological layers, visitors can easily view the chronology of civilizations that have been present in the cliffs of Eyzies. They also reveal the evolution of landscapes over millennia. 

The first inhabitants of the Pataud shelter dates from around 35,000 years ago; they were semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers. Around 28,000 years ago the Gravettians then settled here but for longer periods. The shelter was enlarged into the rock at this time. At the end of the Gravettian civilization (22,000 years ago), the roof collapsed and there remained only a narrow corridor along the rock wall. It was then used as a place of burial: the remains of 6 people have been found here.

The National Museum of Prehistory holds an outstanding collection of artefacts dating from the Ice Age, which include paintings, carvings and replicas of ancient skeletons, and human prints. Its collection is one of the largest in the world, with a minute proportion of its total holdings being displayed at any one time.

Its front was built in the 14th century but its windows were not put in until the 16th century. It served as a strong fortification against attack. It also houses a well-known exhibition on the history of torture, with examples of instruments.

Read our review of a trip to this unusual fort here.

Discovered in 1924 by Jean Maury, the caves were opened to the public in 1927. The cave was inhabited by our ancestors at various periods throughout prehistory, and in particular 15,000 years ago by Cro-Magnon. 

You can also visit the Abris of Laugerie-Basse where large amount of archaeological remains shows a cultural and artistic activity unrivalled in the area and even in Europe.

The cliff face that is visible from the roadside has always been occupied and inhabited. First during the prehistoric times, then later on when it was used a fortification during the middle ages, and finally when it was transformed at the beginning of the 20th century and used as farm dwelling.

As well as the park itself, you can explore the cliff terraces and the marsh, plus taking a visit to the farm and workshops that have been entirely dug out of the rock.

Different reading levels offer more sophisticated content to the general public, including children, and visitors, allowing them to break free from the usual clichés about prehistoric men.

Tours are available in French and English. Hand outs are available in German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian.

The cave has been well preserved and is lit in order to give you the best view of the engravings. This really brings the animals to life right in front of your eyes.

Archaeologists have found jewellery and tools here from Roman times too. The troglodyte village you see today originates back to about the 10th century. Its fortifications were built around the 12th century, although there are limited remains of these left today. It has an intact part-troglodyte chapel dating from the 15th century and the remains of a number of houses. No longer inhabited, it was abandoned in the early 20th century.