Montignac, Perigord Noir
Famous for being home to the amazing prehistoric Lascaux Caves
The pretty old town of Montignac serves as a good base for visiting the nearby prehistoric caves.
Sited on the Vézère river, its main attraction is the ruined Château du Montignac whose keep was rebuilt in the 1960s using original stones from the Saint Etienne priory. Nearby the Lascaux cave, the largest and best-preserved works of prehistoric art, should not be missed. Today you can only visit replicas of the cave to avoid further damage to the original paintings by the carbon dioxide emitted by visitors.
History & Culture in Montignac
Situated on a strategic site, the bridge over the Vézère sits in the heart of the town and from the eleventh to the fourteenth century it was one of the seats of the Counts of Périgord. The Château de Montignac now lies in ruins, though some wall bases, terraces and a single tower remain.
Montignac was the home of the nineteenth-century French writer Eugène Le Roy, who wrote two celebrated novels about rural life in eighteenth century Périgord. There is a small museum in the town dedicated to him.
Sights & Attractions in Montignac
The most obvious attraction of Montignac and the surrounding area is of course the Lascaux Caves. Discovered in the 1940's, the paintings in these caves are thought to be over 17,000 years old. Although you can visit the cave, due to preservation reasons mentioned above, you will only be allowed to visit the splendid replica cave, where you can have a guided visit to help you understand more about them. During the busy summer months of July and August you can also visit the caves at night.
As you travel south-west out of Montignac you will come across many prehistoric sites, including Le Thot - Espace Cro-Magnon which compliments the Lascaux caves, La Roque Saint-Christophe and the Maison Fort de Reignac.
Along with the ruins of the Chateau de Montignac, a visit to the nearby castle and gardens of Chateau de Losse is a great way to spend a few hours.
Sights in Montignac
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Lascaux & Lascaux II, Montignac
The most well-known and impressive prehistoric caves in France. The paintings here are thought to be over 17,000 years old and mainly represent large mammals, signs and humans.
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Chateau de Losse, Thonac
The medieval fortress of Château de Losse overlooks the Vézère river and has a very unique and interesting history.
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Lascaux 4, International Centre for Cave Art, Montignac
Now you can come and discover the famous decorated cave near Montignac in its entirety. But that’s not all; the opening of the International Centre for Cave Art marks the beginning of a new adventure combining the emotion of ancestral art and an important technological achievement.
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Le Thot Prehistoric Cave Centre, Thonac
A prehistoric park and an excellent introduction before visiting the region's prehistoric caves.
Events in Montignac
The town plays host to an annual arts festival each July. The town is filled colour, music, dance, theatre and many other forms of visual arts.
Events in Montignac
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Festival du Périgord Noir
This regional festival celebrates classical and Baroque music at a number of venues across the Périgord Noir.
Things to do in Montignac
A walk around this pretty town is high on the list of things to do when you arrive. You can pick up a 'carte touristique' from the tourist office that will walk you through some of the main highlights and best things to see in town. Minus the coffee breaks it should take around 90 minutes to walk around...however, we did it with an hour coffee break in the middle, just to re-fuel!
As you are on the banks of the river Vézère it would seem a shame not to take advantage and take to the calm and tranquil waters in kayak or canoe. The countryside here is very beautiful and typical of what you might expect of the Dordogne region. Paddle past stately homes and chateaux and through small villages on your way downstream.
How to get to Montignac
Situated half an hour drive to the north of Sarlat-la-Caneda the town of Montignac sits on the banks of the Vézère river in the Perigord Noir region of the Dordogne.
