Caves in the Dordogne Perigord...
 ordogne, the Land of Mankind! A region that was elected by men during prehistoric times. This country has been inhabited since some 450,000 years, i.e. one quarter of Mankind's History. Whether shelters, underrock shelters, caves or painted caves, those of you who like Prehistory and prehistoric remains will not be disappointed in the Dordogne.
Here are what we deem worth a real detour...
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Lascaux II
Situated in the Dordogne, near to the village of Montignac-sur-Vézère, in the heart of Périgord Noir, lies Lascaux, the masterpiece of prehistoric art. This cave of medium size for the region extends for about 200 metres and is made up of alternating chambers which are more or less circular, and passages.
The frescoes represent numerous animals: horses, bulls, deer, ibex, as well as members of the cat family, a bear, a rhinoceros and even an imaginary creature commonly known as the " unicorn". These paintings are accompanied by enigmatic symbols. The positioning of certain paintings on the rock face and the presence of holes 2 metres from the ground indicate that scaffolding was used.
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Grotte de Rouffignac
An immense cave, more than 8 kilometers of galleries, that you can explore from the comfort of an electric train. This cave represents the high point of prehistoric art, with drawings and engravings of bison, ibex, rhinoceros and mammoth ' ancient art dating back 130 centuries. The stunning natural architecture and numerous tracks left behind by bears are the setting of an altogether different world.
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Gouffre de Proumeyssac
Proumeyssac is currently the largest developed cave in the Périgord. A tunnel provides easy access to this huge underground vault, whose walls are adorned with countless crystallizations of exceptional density. A light show combined with a musical background add to the originality of this site. The 45 minute visit, with commentaries by knowledgeable guides, will be an unforgettable experience. This huge underground vault can be encompassed in a single glance. The density and variety of the crystallizations ornating the walls are of undeniable geological interest.
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Grottes de Lacave
On gagne le centre de ce monde souterrain par un train électrique. La visite des 12 salles, représentant 1,6 Km de galeries ouvertes au public, commence à la salle du chaos, on atteint ensuite la Tarasque, une cascade de stalactites, où une roche évoque la forme d'un animal fabuleux, tapi au bord de l'eau. On traverse ensuite le couloir des neiges, la salle des trois parques, puis se terminant en cul-de-sac, la salle de la vierge renferme une statuette naturelle représentant une vierge a l'enfant et appelée bien sûr Notre-Dame de Lacave.
De l'autre côté du chaos, passé la salle du grand dôme au plafond haut de 60 m, les lacs souterrains se font plus nombreux, les concrétions prennent des formes de plus en plus curieuses. Au pied d'une étrange colonne aux pattes d'araignée semble reposer un crâne; la salle des mirages offre le saisissant spectacle d'une ville engloutie, en fait le reflet du plafond dans l'eau pure des gours.
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