Dordogne - Cave Art

We start our tour at the small rock shelter known as Abri du Poisson. Our next stop will be to the fascinating site of Laugerie Haute, with remains of occupation dating from the Upper Palaeolithic. After lunch, we visit the excavations at Abri Pataud where archaeologists have been attempting to trace artistic progress through the millennia. Then we move on to the Musée de l’Abri Cro-Magnon. The day ends at the rock shelter at Cap Blanc, a rare example of Ice Age sculpted bas-reliefs and the best still in situ which are open to the public.

This morning will be dedicated to the newly established Lascaux IV centre. Lascaux is the most famous and spectacular of all decorated caves, with hundreds of paintings and 1,500 engravings, best known for its awe inspiring depictions of aurochs, horses and deer. After exploring here we drive to the park at Le Thot, where animals which would have been extant in the Ice Age are bred and kept. We will have an independent lunch in Montignac, before heading to Lascaux II for the afternoon.

We travel by electric train into the cave system of Rouffignac, more than five miles long. Known as the Cave of the Hundred Mammoths, about one-third of all mammoth depictions known are found in this cave. In this cave there is also evidence of not only human existence, but scratch marks from cave bears too. We take a short drive to Font de Gaume, the only decorated cave in France with multicoloured paintings which remains open to the public. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is home to over 200 representations of animals.

Our first visit is to Cougnac, two caves are found here which contain the claw-marks of cave bears and fascinating stalactite and stalagmite formations. We also see paintings of mammoths, ibex, human type figures and three megaloceros, many of which take advantage of the natural shapes of the cave wall. Continue to Pech Merle, with painted black outlines of aurochs, mammoth, spotted-horses, geometric shapes and handprints. This cave reveals a full repertoire of cave art techniques and material - it is truly thought-provoking and an unforgettable experience.

This morning, we transfer to the airport for our return flight to London.