Les Eyzies de Tayac

Video Tours of the Dordogne

2010-06-07T15:41:00.001-04:00

This page is sponsored by B&B Ferme de Tayac, voted nicest B&B in the Vezere Valley 4 years running.

Ferme de Tayac, a lovely B&B in a 12th century former Farmhouse / Monastery situated in Tayac, a quaint little village in the heart of the Vezere Valley and only 5 minutes walk from Les Eyzies, the Prehistoric Capital of the World. The rooms are all en suite, spacious and comfy, all with views and in former Monks quarters and oozing history. Built up against solid rock, which means that both downstairs and upstairs are on ground level, walls of solid rock, ancient oak beam structures, fortified walls 3 feet thick, a massive and original wine press in the huge dining room, monk's carvings in the stone walls, and lots and lots more.
For more info please visit their official web site : www.fermedetayac.com

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Canoeing adventure on the Vezere River

2009-12-20T20:21:00.003-05:00

Walking Dordogne has the well deserved reputation for offering the best and most unique tours and trips in the Dordogne. Hiking, canoeing, horse riding, mountain biking and caving are all on the must do list for visitors wanting to experience the Dordogne, and not just see the Dordogne.

For 3 years now, they have been taking small groups from every corner of world into the very remote and unmapped parts of the Dordogne, exploring prehistoric caves, shelters, troglodytes as well as Roman and Medievel ruines.

From Walking Dordogne's Blog

NEW FOR 2010 "Sacred River of Dreams"

After our "Valley of Caves" tour, the "Canoe / Hike the Vezere' is our second most popular trip, and last year we had to turn down 47 people for this trip alone. "Canoe Hike the Vezere" is a fantastic (long) day trip, as the title suggests, canoeing and hiking to various prehistoric places of interest. However, we did have one big problem with this trip, and that was to decide WHICH prehistoric sites to hike to, because we can only fit so much into "Dawn till Dusk" and there is just so much to see, so, we came up with this new Trip Sacred River of Dreams.

Sacred River of Dreams is the ultimate adventure, we will canoe and explore 30 miles of the Vezere River. Our ancestors settled here, and roamed this area more than 460,000 years ago. These were the hunting grounds of the Neaderthals, and it was here that our ancestors the Cro Magnon settled. This area is riddled with prehistoric caves, shelters and troglodytes, that are unmapped, unknown and unforgettable. Too much to explore in just one day, so we will stay a night in a real Neanderthal cave, with spectacular views of the valley and river. On day 2 we will continue down river and continue our exploration, and at the end of this adventure we will all enjoy a delicious meal in Les Eyzies de Tayac.

This trip will be offered twice a week, from April thru October 20th. NO trips during July and August, and a max. of 6 people per trip ( 3 canoes)

If you would like to do a canoe / hike trip like this, but would rather not, or cannot do an overnight trip, then consider our "Canoe / Hike the Vezere" trip.

As with ALL our trips, you are guaranteed a UNIQUE and exciting trip of a lifetime.

For more info visit : www.walkingdordogne.com

Mountain Biking Dordogne with Walking Dordogne

2009-07-30T20:01:00.005-04:00

Visitors from around the world are coming to the Dordogne, not for the Prehistoric sites, or Medieval Towns and Villages, No, they are coming to Mountain Bike.
Since some of Walking Dordogne's Mountain Biking Videos were posted on various sites such as YouTube and Mountain Bike Mayhem interest in their tours have gone through the roof.

Walking Dordogne is very secretive about their Trails, but, as Duke from Walking Dordogne states,

this is because we have spent years putting these unique trails together, and a lot of our trails are actually on private property.

Walking Dordogne's notorious rides are :

•The Devils Play Ground
•Satan's Fury
•Devils Backbone
•Valley of Revenge
•Hells Gorge

Walking Dordogne are planning to launch two Dordogne "EPIC" trails, an EPIC Trail is a trail that will take a whole day (if lucky) to complete, usually aboy 8+ hours.
These 2 EPICS will be finalized in about November, and will be added to the 2010 list of trips / tours.

To make it easier for Mountain Bikers around the world to find mountain biking in the Dordogne info, Walking Dordogne has launched a "Mountain Biking Dordogne" web page : www.mountainbikingdordogne.com

For all other Walking Dordogne Tours and Trips visit : www.walkingdordogne.com

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Dordogne cycling tours and bike rentals

2009-05-01T12:06:00.000-04:00

Aquitaine Bike the cycle hire and cycling tour base in the Dordogne. They are located in the Perigord Noir, near the confluence of the rivers Dordogne and Vezere. The best way to explore the Dordogne Region is by bicycle. Aquitaine Bike's rent 24-speed Cannondale and 24-speed Trek hybrid/touring bikes. These lightweight, high performance bikes are ideal for the country roads in the Perigord and surrounding area.

We can say without doubt that the best cycling conditions are to be found in the Dordogne: quiet country roads to suit all levels of riding, beautiful scenery, and one of the cleanest rivers in Europe to cool off in... La Dordogne. Weather conditions here are great for riding from April to November.

Since 2000, Aquitaine Bike has organized cycling tours throughout France and Spain and worked as consultants to U.S. and British bicycle touring companies. Alongside their bike hire services, they specialize in self-guided custom tours in the Dordogne. Their system and organisation of these cycling tours keep costs to a minimum. Check out their Touring page for details. You can find suggestions for accommodation on the Where to Stay page.

The routes and itineraries that Aquitaine Bike design are the result of 20 years of personal cycling experience in the region and 10 years of client feedback.

Visit their Southwest France Tour page for information on our self-guided trip across Aquitaine, from the Dordogne to the Basque Country.

The Dordogne, or Perigord region, is a treasure of natural beauty, prehistory, history, architecture, and gourmet cuisine built around such delicacies as foie gras, the famous black truffle, walnuts, and fresh strawberries. Magnificent feudal and renaissance castles, prehistoric cave art, quiet country roads linking charming honey-coloured stone villages, meandering rivers, and dense oak and chestnut forests full with deer and wild boar. This magical land will enchant you!

Aquitaine Bike are fully insured and listed with the Ministry of Health, Youth, and Sports, reference number 02407ET0126.

Robert and Amy Owensmith
24220 Coux et Bigaroque, France
Email: aquitainebike@gmail.com
Tel / Fax: +33 (0) 553.30.35.17

For more info visit: www.aquitainebike.com

Aquitaine Bike is highly recommended by

B&B Ferme de Tayac : www.fermedetayac.com

Scenic Dordogne : www.scenicdordogne.com

Walking Dordogne : www.walkingdordogne.com

Les Eyzies Tourist Info : www.leseyzies-tourist.info

The Dordogne : www.thedordogne.com

Dordogne Tourist Info : www.dordognetourist.info

Duke of Dordogne : www.dukeofdordogne.com

High on Mountain Biking : www.highonmountainbiking.com

The REAL Vezere Valley

2008-11-28T16:31:00.002-05:00

Dordogne Design has just launched a stunning new site that shows off the Vezere Valley in the Dordogne like you have never seen it before.
Beautiful photo's taken on Walking Dordogne's famous trips exploring the Vezere Valley.

For more info visit : http://www.thevezerevalley.com/

Accommodation Les Eyzies

2008-11-18T13:18:00.002-05:00

In the early 12th century 6 Monks from the Monastery of Paunat were travelling between Monasteries when one of the Monks became very ill, they set up camp in Tayac near a water source. The monk was dieing, but miraculously healed after drinking the water from the "Tayac Source". To the Monks of Paunat this was a "Sign" and round about 1123 they started building the magnificent and fortified church of Tayac, they called it "St Martin". At the same time, the Monks of Paunat started working the land in this lush Vezere valley, they built the farmhouse / monastery, which is now "Ferme de Tayac" that has been completely renovated, and is now a lovely B&B opposite the church. For hundreds of years the Monks lived here and worked the lands, bit by bit houses were built against the rock. The water from the "Tayac Source" was taken to other surrounding Monasteries, for it's healing powers, Tayac was thriving. Two centuries later, things took a turn, wars were breaking out, armies were constantly attacking areas and strongholds. Religion and all that went with it lost it's power, and very slowly the life in and around Tayac became what it is today. St. Martin still stands proud, and is without doubt the nicest Fortified Church in the Perigord, the "Tayac Source" is still there, although no longer in use.

Most people visiting the Vezere and Dordogne Valley have an interest in history, so why not stay a few nights in an historic B&B in the heart of it all?. B&B Ferme de Tayac, a 12th century former farmhouse / monastery ideally situated in Les Eyzies de Tayac, in the heart of the Vezere Valley, known as the "Prehistoric Capital of the World" B&B Ferme de Tayac is a must place to stay if you are visiting the Dordogne, since it officially opened to the public 2 years ago, it has been rated the #1 B&B accommodation both years running. B&B Ferme de Tayac is a 12th Century former Monastery farmhouse, lived in and run by the Monks who owned and worked the land for hundreds of years. Located in the heart of the Vezere Valley in the picturesque small village of Tayac, just 8 minutes walk from the center of Les Eyzies. In 2001 Suzanne & Mike purchased Ferme de Tayac after it had been unoccupied for over 10 years. It was in a sorry state, and was deemed dangerous and a hazzard. It took Suzanne & Mike 7 years to bring Ferme de Tayac back to it's former glory. With among other things, meter thick walls, rooms built into solid rock, oak beam structures, and bedrooms in former monks quarters make Ferme de Tayac a speacial and very unique place to stay whilst visiting the Dordogne, and it is not hard to see why Ferme de Tayac has been the travellers choice of accommodation for 2 years. For more and updated info on Ferme de Tayac please visit their official web site http://www.fermedetayac.com/

Read travellers reviews about Ferme de Tayac:

Les Eyzies Info excellent and informative

2008-10-30T21:51:00.003-04:00

Planning a visit to Les Eyzies de Tayac or the Vezere or Dordogne Valley? then leseyzies.info is definitely a site you should take a look at.Find out what and where the main attractions are, when to go, when not to go, history, accommodation, les eyzies and dordogne related articles and lots of other useful info every visitor should know before they visit the area.
More than 450.000 years our ancestors chose and settled in the Vezere Valley .. thats correct, Les Eyzies de Tayac is where our ancestors called home, and it was here that in 1868 the link between Prehistoric Man, and Modern Man was discoverd.

The Vézère valley contains 147 prehistoric sites dating from the Palaeolithic and 25 decorated caves. It is particularly interesting from an ethnological and anthropological, as well as an aesthetic point of view because of its cave paintings, especially those of the Lascaux Cave, whose discovery in 1940 was of great importance for the history of prehistoric art. The hunting scenes show some 100 animal figures, which are remarkable for their detail, rich colours and lifelike quality.
The Vezere Valley and Les Eyzies should be on everyone's wish list, but it is only the lucky ones that actually make it back.

For more info : http://www.leseyzies.info/

Dordogne SEO a MUST for everyone with a web site

2008-10-16T14:14:00.002-04:00

Is your Internet Marketing in shambles? Does anyone know how to find your site? Need more targeted traffic? We can help!
Having a nice web site promoting your business is extremely important, but, unless it is high on the search engines, so that potential customers can actually find your site, it's pretty much useless, a bit like having a nice sports car, but no petrol.The average person will spend on average about 600 Euro for a web site, 200 Euro per year for domain and hosting, 150 on advertising costs, and lot's of free time but most people do not spend any time or money on having their site optimized.
Anyone serious about a meaningful online business presence needs Search Engine Optimization Services also referred to as SEO Services . With millions of web sites designed and published everyday in all kind of languages and topics, a long term and sustainable internet marketing strategy is crucial. There is no doubt that the following statement is true: An optimized web site, with SEO web design in mind, generates more internet traffic thus driving more leads, phone calls and sales which translate in revenue.
Have your site optimized now, and start making your site work for you, rather than you working for your site.

For more info visit: www.complete-seo.com

Dordogne Link Directory .. Linking the Dordogne

2008-09-14T23:43:00.001-04:00

Dordogne Link Directory is a link directory for all and any Dordogne related links. Add your link 100% FREE, all we ask for is a link back to our site.
This directory is a very good way to advertise your business, and get your link seen by potential customers world wide 24 / 7 / 365

For everyone that is serious about having their site completely optimized for the search engines, there is "Premium Dordogne Sites"

Key facts and for the Dordogne figures from 1 March 2007

over 3.1 million tourists
Average length of stay (all accommodation): 10 days
Representing almost 31 million nights' accommodation
A direct turnover of at least 980 million euros
Over 6,000 permanent jobs in tourism (6900 in July & Aug.)

Tourism in the Dordogne represents over 31% of the local economy

More facts and figures.
77% booked part of their vacation online. (airline, ferry, rental car etc)
93% of visitors researched the area online before visiting.
71 % of visitors booked accommodation online

5 years ago, these figures would have all been below 30%, and 10 years ago they would have all been below 3%, however, in 3 year time they will ALL be above 90%
These figures show that anyone serious about running a business, must make the most from the internet.

For more info visit: http://www.dordognelinkdirectory.com/

Please forward this to everyone you know in the Dordogne, they will thank you for it.

Self guided hikes in the Vezere and Dordogne valley

2008-08-24T21:58:00.004-04:00

Walking Dordogne has posted on their web site that as of next spring they will have 5 self-guided hikes, all of about 30km, however the hikes can be combined to create much longer or shorter hikes.
Walking Dordogne will supply the walkers with a detailed map and a hand held GPS with all the routes incl. places of interest, places to eat / drink, accommodation if needed and lots more.

Details about the hikes, or prices were not mentioned on their site.

The original article can be found here: http://walkingdordogne.com/wdnews/

Tayac de Les Eyzies

2008-07-08T09:20:00.006-04:00

Tayac, the tiny but very picturesque village just 10 min. walk from the center of Les Eyzies is often overlooked by the majority of visitors passing through Les Eyzies.
Up untill the early 1900's Les Eyzies de Tayac was simply known as "Tayac". Tayac is more than 600 years older than Les Eyzies.
Tayac is historically extremely rich, it was not just the roaming grounds of our Prehistoric ancestors, but the Celts , Romans and Gauls all left their markings on the area.

In the early 12th century 6 Monks from the Monastery of Paunat were travelling between Monasteries when one of the Monks became very ill, they set up camp in Tayac near a water source. The monk was dieing, but miraculously healed after drinking the water from the "Tayac Source". To the Monks of Paunat this was a "Sign" and round about 1123 they started building the magnificent and fortified church of Tayac, they called it "St Martin".
At the same time, the Monks of Paunat started working the land in this lush Vezere valley, they built the farmhouse / monastery, which is now "Ferme de Tayac" that has been completely renovated, and is now a lovely B&B opposite the church.
For hundreds of years the Monks lived here and worked the lands, bit by bit houses were built against the rock.
The water from the "Tayac Source" was taken to other surrounding Monasteries, for it's healing powers, Tayac was thriving.
Two centuries later, things took a turn, wars were breaking out, armies were constantly attacking areas and strongholds. Religion and all that went with it lost it's power, and very slowly the life in and around Tayac became what it is today. St. Martin still stands proud, and is without doubt the nicest Fortified Church in the Perigord, the "Tayac Source" is still there, although no longer in use.

During construction for a railroad in 1868, a rock shelter in a limestone cliff was uncovered. Near the back of the shelter, an occupation floor was recognized, and when excavated, it revealed the remains of four adult skeletons, one infant, and some fragmentary bones. The Link between Prehistoric Man and Modern Man had been found in Tayac.

Recommended accommodation in Les Eyzies de Tayac:

B&B Ferme de Tayac : www.fermedetayac.com Lovely B&B in a 12th Century former farmhouse / monastery opposite the fortified church of St. Martin

Experience Life as a Cro-Magnon

2008-07-06T14:57:00.001-04:00

Why does Walking Dordogne have the most unique, and exciting trips and tours?. It's because YOU decide what you would like to do, see or visit.
Again they have listened to their customers, and thanks to all your feedback they have created yet another unique experience. I say experience, because it is just that, it's not a trip or a tour, Walking Dordogne is giving you the chance to experience what it was like to be a Cro Magnon about 35.000 years ago.

You will spend 3 days and 2 nights living as a Cro Magnon, you will sleep in (a) real prehistoric cave(s), you will be dressed in clothes made of hide and fur just like a real Cro Magnon, you will fish using a traditional (made by yourself ) fishing harpoon, you will have to find and prepare your food with tools made by yourself, you will be taught how to make your own fire, and how to survive using the same methods our ancestors used 1000's of years ago. You will hunt and gather food as a team. This is the closest you will ever get to basics, and you will be talking about this experience for the rest of your life... Guaranteed !!

More Info:

You will be stripped of ALL modern day mod cons, and will start the experience with only the Cro Magnon clothes we supply you with.
Your "home" for 3 days and 2 nights will be in caves situated in 30 Hectares of (private) rugged land with the Vezere River running through it.
Your "Guide" will teach you everything you will need to know, and more, on how to "become" and survive as a Cro Magnon.
You will hunt, fish and gather food, but the hunting will be symbolic, NO real animals will be killed, all the animals will be fake, but you will still have to find and hunt them, and you will be supplied with the real stuff ( venison, wild boar, rabbit and pigeon) depending on what fake animals you kill. The fish however will be real, but limited to one fish per person per day, thats if you can catch them.
You will be taught everything about our ancestors the Cro Magnon, why and how they settled in this region, and putting an end to the Neanderthal existence.

This experience is ideal for the whole family, but there is a minimum age of 12 for the kids. (younger if you book as a whole group of 6+ ) The groups will be a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8.

This experience is not suitable for vegetarians.

This experience will be for April, May, June, September and October and takes place on Private land somewhere near Les Eyzies de Tayac in the Vezere Valley

For more info: www.walkingdordogne.com/wdnews
or the official website
http://www.walkingdordogne.com/

Your home for 3 days and 2 nights

Les Eyzies Tourist .info

2008-06-18T12:01:00.004-04:00

An excellent and very informative new website has been launched by de Paulus and Dordogne Design, that promotes Les Eyzies and the surrounding area.

History, Towns & Villages, Tourist Attractions, Useful info and lots more, make this a very nice site

They have added an excellent "Photo Gallery" of some of Les Eyzies and Dordogne's main spots, this is definitely worth a look.

There is also a Free link exchange directory, for anyone with a Dordogne related buisness or website.

And, why not send a Les Eyzies de Tayac Ecard to your Friends & Family, you can do it from the
website

For more info visit: http://www.leseyzies-tourist.info/

Certified guide to historic Vezere Valley

2008-05-18T21:50:00.000-04:00

Bart Vranken
Guide Interprete National

La Combe 24620 Les Eyzies France
tel. : +33.(0)5.53.35.56.27 mob. : +33.(0)6.83.29.59.45
e-mail : bvranken@aol.com

0 30.01.1961 St. Amandsberg Belgium

Degrees in Prehistory, History, Art-history and Philosophy
(Chicago Art Institute – U.S., Rijksuniversiteit Gent –
Belgium, Universite de Bordeaux 1 – France).

“Guide Interprete National” Prehistory, History, Art-history,
Licence-card no : G.N. 02.24.09 Archeology, Architecture,
Landscapes, Nature.
Guide, Interpreter, Lecturer.
Independent and autonomous :
Nederlands, English, no URSSAF : 240 266393362
Francais, Deutsch. no SIRET : 389 314 360 00022

Duration, means of transport, themes and sites of your excursion
can be customized to your wishes.

Ref. : “Finally, my particular thanks to historian Bart Vranken for
his invaluable insights, and for his companionship while tramping
through little-known and neglected ruins of the Perigord.”
Michael Crichton, in “Timeline” : Acknowledgments, p. 446.

Dordogne Design, Putting Dordogne on the web.

2008-03-19T22:45:00.005-04:00

http://www.dordognedesign.com/

We specialize in web sites for the Dordogne region. We know how extremely difficult it is to get your name or business onto the search engines. We do not just design web sites, we help you get your site seen by potential customers from around the world.

Designing a web site is the easiest part, getting people to find your site amongst the more than 92 Billion!! (indexed by google in 2006) sites can be tricky and very expensive.
I have designed more than 20 Dordogne related sites to help advertise your web site after it has been launched.

Let Dordogne Design put you on the web, can you afford not to?

Here are some stats that show the importance of a web site:

Key facts and figures from 1 March 2007

Over 3.1 million tourists

Average length of stay (all accommodation): 10 days

Representing almost 31 million nights’ accommodation

A direct turnover of at least 980 million euros

Over 6,000 permanent jobs in tourism (6900 in July & Aug.)

Tourism in the Dordogne represents over 31% of the local economy

More facts and figures.

77% booked part of their vacation online. (airline, ferry, rental car etc)

93% of visitors researched the area online before visiting.

71 % of visitors booked accommodation online

5 years ago, these figures would have all been below 30%, and 10 years ago they would have all been below 3%, however, in 3 year time they will ALL be above 90%

These figures show the importance of a web site, and no one can design, host, advertize and optimize your dordogne related site better than Dordogne Design .
Dordogne Design, owned by de Paulus who knows how to put the Dordogne and your site / buisness on the web.
With more than 20 Dordogne related web sites that are already high on the mayor Search Engines list are ready to advertise your site.
Advertising a site designed by Dordogne Design on all our parent sites is FREE, saving you hundreds of Euro's, and focusing only on the Dordogne which will attract only people that are searching for Dordogne related sites.

Dordogne Design does not design web sites for a living, which means the prices are as low as you will ever find, and your web site is a de Paulus Project, which means he will always be there for you whenever you need help or advice.
Get in touch with Dordogne Design and see what they can do for you... Can you afford not to?

www.dordognedesign.com

Hiking & Exploring the Vezere Valley

2008-02-26T18:57:00.003-05:00

Hiking & Exploring

The Vezere Valley in the "Perigord Noir" is with it's more than 250 UNESCO sites of interest, the undisputed "Prehistoric Capital of the World". Prehistoric dwellings, caves, rock shelters and lots more, most of which are only accessible on foot.
However, Dordogne has much more to offer than just relics from the Prehistoric era, castles, bastides, medieval towns & villages, all of these,and lots more, all in the stunning and amazing scenery the Dordogne is famous for, hills, cliffs, windy rivers, great weather, friendly locals, and lots more make the Dordogne one of the most interesting and exciting places in the world.

Walking Dordogne takes you to all the well kept secrets that are only accessible on foot, horse or canoe. To see the "Real Dordogne" you will have to get off the roads, and on the tracks. Let us take you back, to the places our ancestors called "home" more than 460000 years ago.
We will take you on unforgettable trips to places that are remote, and seen only by a few lucky people, places of interest that are not mentioned on any maps or in any guide books. We will take you back in time to caves, shelters, dwellings and troglodytes hidden away by time and forgotten about.

more info: http://www.vezerevalley.info/ or http://www.walkingdordogne.com/

Les Eyzies and the Cro Magnon

2007-12-16T10:47:00.000-05:00

Cro-Magnons are recognized as the earliest know race of modern humans, Homo sapiens. Generally considered the earliest European descendants, Cro-Magnons lived between 10,000 and 35,000 years ago. The first Cro-Magnon specimens were discovered in France in 1868 along with many sophisticated tools, artifacts and cave paintings. Cro-Magnons are credited with creating the first calendar nearly 34,000 years ago

During construction for a railroad in 1868, a rock shelter in a limestone cliff was uncovered. Near the back of the shelter, an occupation floor was recognized, and when excavated, it revealed the remains of four adult skeletons, one infant, and some fragmentary bones. The condition and placement of ornaments, including pieces of shell and animal tooth in what appears to have been pendants or necklaces, led the researchers to think that the skeletons were intentionally buried in a single grave in the shelter.

Cro-Magnon 1 preserved the skeleton of an adult male. The individual was probably middle-aged (less than 50 years old) at his death on the basis of the pattern of closure of cranial sutures. The bones in his face are noticeably pitted (see top photograph) from a fungal infection. The skull was complete except for the teeth, which are reconstructed in the cast photographed here.

While the Cro-Magnon remains are representative of the earliest anatomically modern human beings to appear in western Europe, this population was not the earliest anatomically modern humans to evolve. The skull of Cro-Magnon 1 does, however, show the traits that are unique to modern humans, including the high rounded cranial vault with a near vertical forehead. The orbits are no longer topped by a large browridge. There is no prominent prognathism of the face.

Analysis of the pathology of the skeletons found at the Les Eyzies rock shelter indicates that the humans of this time period led a physically tough life. In addition to the infection noted above, several of the individuals found at the shelter had fused vertebrae in their necks indicating traumatic injury, and the adult female found at the shelter had survived for some time with a skull fracture. The survival of the individuals with such ailments is indicative of community support of individuals, which allowed them to convalesce.

Associated tools and fragments of fossil animal bone date the site to the uppermost Pleistocene, probably between 32,000 and 30,000 years old.

Recommended accommodation in Les Eyzies de Tayac:

B&B Ferme de Tayac. Lovely B&B in a 12th Century former farmhouse / monastery situated ideally in the hart of the Vezere Valley and just 3 minutes from Abri de Cro Magnon, where the skeletons were discovered
http://www.fermedetayac.com/

Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley

2007-12-16T10:40:00.000-05:00

Brief Description

The Vézère valley contains 147 prehistoric sites dating from the Palaeolithic and 25 decorated caves. It is particularly interesting from an ethnological and anthropological, as well as an aesthetic point of view because of its cave paintings, especially those of the Lascaux Cave, whose discovery in 1940 was of great importance for the history of prehistoric art. The hunting scenes show some 100 animal figures, which are remarkable for their detail, rich colours and lifelike quality.

Locations

Communes of Les Eyzies de Tayac, Tursac, Montignac-sur-Vézère, Saint-Leon-sur-Vézère, Marquay, Manaurie-Rouffignac and Saint-Cirq-du Bugue, Department of the Dordogne, Region of Aquitaine
N45 3 27 E1 10 12
Serial ID Number
Name & Location ↓
Coordinates
Area
Date Inscribed

85-001
Abri de Cro-Magnon
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 25.6 E1 00 34.6
0 Ha
1979

85-002
Abri du Poisson
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 38.8 E0 59 54.2
0 Ha
1979

85-012
Cro de Granville (cro de Rouffignac)
Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N45 00 31.7 E0 59 15.5
0 Ha
1979

85-003
Font de Gaume
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 13.2 E1 01 35.6
0 Ha
1979

85-015
La Madeleine
Tursac, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 58 01.3 E1 02 11.1
0 Ha
1979

85-004
La Micoque
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 57 27.6 E1 00 23.5
0 Ha
1979

85-005
La Mouthe
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 55 28.9 E1 01 14.1
0 Ha
1979

85-011
Lascaux
Montignac, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N45 03 13.3 E1 10 12.0
0 Ha
1979

85-006
Laugerie basse
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 57 03.8 E0 59 57.5
0 Ha
1979

85-007
Laugerie haute
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 57 11.8 E1 00 12.3
0 Ha
1979

85-010
Le Cap Blanc
Marquay, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 44.3 E1 05 50.6
0 Ha
1979

85-008
Le Grand Roc
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 58.2 E0 59 54.0
0 Ha
1979

85-014
Le Moustier
Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 59 39.6 E1 03 35.5
0 Ha
1979

85-009
Les Combarelles
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 56 36.8 E1 02 31.6
0 Ha
1979

85-013
Roc de Saint-Cirq
Saint-Cirq, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
N44 55 33.9 E0 58 02.9
0 Ha
1979

Theory

The Vézère Valley is on a limestone plateau in Southwestern France. It is home to several hidden calcareous caves. This is Lascaux Cave, the most well known. These drawings here date back to the Paleolithic period around 17,000 years ago. The cave was closed in 1972 for preservation work.

Subsequently decorated grottoes of the Vézère Valley including this Lascaux cave have been inscribed on the list of World Heritage. In this drawing, the front foot of the horse was drawn over the bulky rock surface to give a solid impression. The technique is used to express a galloping horse. This drawing of cattle has many layers. The front red figure is a cow, and behind her is black ox with large horns.

Why did man start to draw? Dr. Michel Lorblanchet has proposed a new theory through practical archaeology that takes account of the painting materials and artistic techniques of the time. He put charcoal in his mouth and sprays it onto the wall, exactly as people during the Paleolithic period used to do. By blowing onto the rocks, they believed that it would breathe life into something inside it. People in those days believed that some kind of supernatural power existed inside the rocks. They tried to capture this great power by projecting images of wild animals onto them. Signs of human imagination have been found here. This unicorn is drawn on the closest wall from the entrance of the Lascaux cave.

People stopped painting in these caves about 10000 years ago. Once they had mastered the skills of stock farming, they started to regard themselves as superior to other animals and with that change the Great Spirit in the caves was gradually forgotten.

Recommended accommodation to explore the Vezere Valley:

B&B Ferme de Tayac. Lovely B&B in a 12th Century former farmhouse / monastery situated ideally in the hart of the Vezere Valley in Les Eyzies de Tayac, the Prehistoric Capital of the world.
http://www.fermedetayac.com/

The new National Prehistoric Museum

2007-12-12T19:18:00.000-05:00

The new national prehistoric museum of Eyzies-de-Tayac bares all

Built in an overhang shelter on the face of a striking cliff, the National Prehistoric Museum of Eyzies-de-Tayac is located in Dordogne, in southwestern France. The museum features unique archaeological collections chiefly discovered at the most prestigious excavation sites in the Vézère Valley, added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List owing to its many Palaeolithic remains. 300,000 visitors annually are expected at the new museum, located in the heart of the Périgord Noir area, land of French philosopher Montaigne - a region acclaimed for its history, beautiful landscapes of dark and mysterious forests, and world-renowned gastronomy.

Established since July 2004 in the new building designed by architect Jean-Pierre Buffi, the museum houses some 18,000 pieces and a collection of six million objects.“Although the new museum bears witness to the presence of men and women of the 21st century, its modernity manifests itself through its environment, marked by the sheer height of the cliff it is built on and the small size of the historical village of Eyzies-de-Tayac, with its 900 inhabitants and its medieval ruins”, remarks Jean-Pierre Buffi, architect of the Toulouse multimedia library and of the Façade of the Bercy Park in Paris.

The museum’s collections were established as early as 1913, when indefatigable researcher Denis Peyrony convinced the French state to acquire the Château des Eyzies, built at the end of the 16th century, and to transform it into an excavation warehouse that could double up as a museum. These collections have since been tremendously enriched through excavation discoveries at regional sites as well as private donations.

“The museum made a political choice by deciding not to portray the entire history of the Hominids’ development”, explains Jean-Jacques Cleyet-Merle, the museum’s director since 1988. “Instead, the museum describes the Palaeolithic era: the history of the Neanderthals, who vanished 50,000 years ago, and of the Cro-Magnon man, who lived in socially structured groups, buried his dead and made objects that had a symbolic meaning”.

Visitors enter the new museum as though embarking on a trip to the origins of humanity. At the museum’s entrance, the main chapters of the Hominids’ development are evoked through an anthropological frieze and a brief reminder of Africa’s history, starting with the early Australopithecines. Many themes are explored, including the legendary “Lucy”, the small 3.5-million-year-old woman discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. Next, the staircase leading to the permanent exhibit galleries plunges visitors into the mists of time, revealing seven sequences that cover the entire Palaeolithic era through an “idealstratigraphy”.

Upon leaving the“abysses of time”, visitors - equipped with the keys necessary for interpreting the rest of the exhibit - slide into the lower gallery and discover, along a passageway, the various material cultures that succeeded one another from 400,000 to 10,000 BC. This same itinerary also retraces the development of these different cultures: early tools, furniture, and other artefacts. Many themes are presented, such as the lifestyle of Neanderthal populations and the appearance of modern man.

In the upper gallery, visitors are invited to follow an initiatory path from the outside world of mankind’s ancestors to the semi-darkness of the painted caves. Museum-goers can also admire the replicas of prehistoric hearths, of the homes built under shelters and of the places of origin of the objects on display in the rest of the gallery. The reconstructed grave of “L’enfant de la Madeleine” is of particular interest in this section.

Each object - statuettes, jewels, harpoons, lamps, scrapers of all sorts, to name but some of the pieces - has been selected with great care, based on its representativeness and its state of conservation.

Organised by Jean-Jacques Cleyet-Merle, in close partnership with the Scientific Council chaired by Jean-Philippe Rigaud, honorary director of the Institute for Prehistory and Quaternary Geology of Bordeaux, the new National Prehistoric Museum’s scientific programme has been influenced by the establishment’s location at the heart of the prestigious sites and deposits from which its acquired its exceptional collections. In addition to the famous Lascaux Cave and its colourful cave paintings, many listed sites hark back to 400,000 years of human history, from the Font-de-Gaume cave to the Combarelles and Rouffignac caves, as well as the Poisson, Moustier and Micoque shelters.

Artists at the time had a very basic colour palette, consisting of black, ochre and red, which they skilfully used to make colour gradations, creating astoundingly lifelike animal scenes. In the new museum, “the ochre tones, such as the grey of the cast-aluminium roofs, mirror the cliff’s timeless colours”, points out Jean-Pierre Buffi.

In addition to presenting its collections to the general public, conserving humankind’s heritage and supporting archaeological digs, the National Prehistoric Museum also hosts archaeologists, researchers and students from the world over, and collaborates with various foreign institutions.

The abundance of masterpieces, shelters and grottos that dot the entire Vézère Valley, framed by dark and mysterious forests, vineyards and rivers, should not cause visitors to forget that Périgord is also the land of foie gras, duck confit, walnuts, cep mushrooms and the distinct-smelling truffles. Just 20 km away from Eyzies-de-Tayac, Sarlat - a town full of art and history, whose old streets shelter the former home of humanist writer La Boétie - is well worth a visit. One of the favourite visiting places of film directors, this prestigious site regularly hosts special events such as film festivals, theatre games, village celebrations, and much more.

Nestled in the heart of Périgord Noir, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac is sure to captivate you. The entire region, including its soil, beats with the soul of humanity.

Recommended accommodation in Les Eyzies de Tayac:

B&B Ferme de Tayac. Lovely B&B in a 12th Century former farmhouse / monastery just 2 minutes from the National Prehistoric Museum. www.fermedetayac.com

Exciting Les Eyzies 4 the kids

2007-12-05T18:24:00.001-05:00

As of September 2007 Walking Dordogne will be offering exciting day trips for the kids.We have put together an exciting horse ride which will last for about two hours, followed by a spectaculer hike to explore a few caves, picnic on a real prehistoric rock ledge with stunning views. Total time is about 5-6 hours. Another option is the Canoe, Horse ride and Hike package. Suitable for ages 8+
For more information go to http://www.walkingdordogne.com/

History of the Vezere

2007-12-05T18:14:00.000-05:00

In and around the town of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac are a series of prehistoric rock dwellings, the caves include some of the mostsignificant archaeological finds of the Upper Paleolithic (from about 40,000 to10,000 years ago) and Middle Paleolithic (200,000 to 40,000 years ago) periods;they are especially noted for their extensive wall drawings. Situated in the VézèreValley (the location of some 150 archaeological sites) the Eyzies-de-Tayac caves are among a series of decorated grottoes in the area that were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.

Following the discovery of flint and bone splinters in the area in 1862, a series of excavations were undertaken by the French geologist Édouard Lartet and the English banker Henry Christy.Their work quickly established Les Eyzies-de-Tayac as the principal archaeological site for the Upper Paleolithic Period. Among their discoveries were the multicoloured animal drawings of the Font-de-Gaume cave and an incredible display of stalactites and stalagmites in the Grand Roc. A rock shelter at La Madeleine (the type site for the Magdalenian culture) yielded bone and antler tools. The cave of Le Moustier is the type site of the Mousterian industry, a tool culture known for its flake implements.

Cro-Magnon is the name of a rock shelter near Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, where several prehistoric skeletons were found in 1868. Sent to the site, the French geologist Louis Lartet began excavations in which he established the existence of five archaeological layers covered with ash. The age of the human remains found in the topmost layer (along with worked flint and the bones of animals of species now extinct) is Upper Paleolithic (c. 35,000-10,000 years ago), but the attribution of these to a clearly defined Upper Paleolithic culture is less definite. Traditionally regarded as Aurignacian, since typically Aurignacian artifacts were found in the rock shelter, they could be more recent, and it has been suggested that they should be assigned to thePerigordian (a separate industry covering approximately the same time period as the Aurignacian), which would give an age of about 25,000 BC.

In Paleontology, the term Perigordian industry is given to the tool tradition of prehistoric men in Upper Paleolithic Europe that followed the Mousterian industry, was contemporary in part with the Aurignacian, and was succeeded by the Solutrean. Perigordian tools included denticulate (toothed) tools of the type used earlier in the Mousterian tradition and stone knives with one sharp edge and one flat edge, much like modern metal knives. Other Upper Paleolithic tool types are also found in Perigordian culture, including scrapers, borers, burins (woodworking tools rather like chisels), and composite tools; bone implements are relatively uncommon.

The Perigordian has two main stages.
The earlier stage, called Châtelperronian, is concentrated in the Périgord region of France but is believed to have originated in southwestern Asia; it is distinguished from contemporary stone tool culture complexes by the presence of curved-backed knives (knives sharpened both on the cutting edge and the back).
The later stage is called Gravettian and is found in France, Italy, and Russia (there termed Eastern Gravettian). Gravettian people in the west hunted horses to the near exclusion of the reindeer and bison that other contemporaries hunted; in Russia Gravettians concentrated on mammoths. Both appear to have hunted communally, using stampedes and pitfalls to kill large numbers of animals at one time. Gravettiansin the east used large mammoth bones as part of the building material for winter houses; mammoth fat was used to keep fires burning. Gravettian peoples made rather crude, fat “Venus” figurines, used red ochre as pigment, and fashioned jewelry out of shells, animal teeth, and ivory.Archaeological finds in the Perigord, made another profound impact on the study of religion when in 1841 the discovery of prehistoric human artifacts and later finds gave clues to early man’s magico-religious beliefs and practices. These discoveries, notably the cave paintings in the Dordogne, northern and eastern Spain, and elsewhere, gave scholars encouragement to work out the course of man’s religious evolution from earliest times.
Spectacular as prehistoric archaeology was proving to be, however, it could only yield fragments of a whole that is difficult to reconstruct. Even the famous cave paintings of Les Trois Frères, in the Dordogne, for example, which portray among other things a dancing human with antlers on his head and a stallion’s tail decorating his rear, does not yield an unambiguous interpretation: is the dancing figure a sorcerer, a priest, or what? He very likely is a priest presenting himself as a divine figure connected with animal fertility and hunting rites–but this remains as only an educated guess. Hence, it became attractive to many scholars of religion to try to supplement ancient archaeological evidence with data drawn from contemporary primitive peoples–i.e., to interpret the prehistoric Stone Age through present-day stone age cultures. This procedure has several pitfalls–partly because contemporary “primitives” are themselves the product of a long historical process and because their culture may have changed over the millennia in many and various ways.

Lascaux: A cave containing one of the most outstanding displays of prehistoric art yet discovered, located above the Vézère River valley near Montignac. It is a short distance upstream from another major cave-art site, Eyzies-de-Tayac. The two sites, with some two dozen other painted caves and 150 prehistoric settlements in the Vézère valley, were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979. Discovered by four teenage boys in September 1940, the cave was first studied by the French archaeologist Henri-Édouard-Prosper Breuil. It consists of a main cavern (some 66 feet [20 meters] wide and 16 feet [5 meters] high) and several steep galleries, all magnificently decorated with engraved, drawn, and painted figures.
In all there are some 600 painted and drawn animals and symbols, along with nearly 1,500 engravings. The paintings were done on a light background in various shades of yellow, red, brown, and black. Among the most remarkable pictures are four huge aurochs (some 16 feet long), their horns portrayed in a “twisted perspective”; a curious two-horned animal (misleadingly nicknamed the “unicorn”), perhaps intended as a mythical creature; several red deer; bovids; great herds of horses; the heads and necks of several stags (3 feet [1 meter] tall), which appear to be swimming across a river; a series of six felines; two male bison; and a rare narrative composition.The narrative scene has been variously interpreted but is probably based on shamanism. Its central figure is a bison that appears to have been speared in the abdomen; hanging, or spilling, from the animal near the spear is a lined, ovular sack that may represent entrails. In front of the bison’s horns, and falling away from the animal, is a bird-headed man–the only human figure depicted in the cave–with an erect phallus. Just below, or beside, the man is a stick with a bird ornament as a finial. Another spear is near the man’s feet, and off to the left a rhinoceros seems to be walking away from the scene. Archaeologists have theorized that the cave served over a long period of time as a centre for the performance of hunting and magical rites–a theory supported by the depiction of a number of arrows and traps on or near the animals. Based on carbon-14 dating, as well as the fossil record of the animal species portrayed, the Lascaux paintings have been dated to the late Aurignacian (Perigordian) period (c. 15,000-13,000 BC). The cave, in perfect condition when first discovered, was opened to the public in 1948. Its floor level was quickly lowered to accommodate a walkway, destroying information of probable scientific value in the process–and the ensuing pedestrian traffic (as many as 100,000 annual visitors), as well as the use of artificial lighting, caused the once-vivid colours to fade and algae and bacteria to grow over some of the paintings. Thus, in 1963 the cave was again closed. In 1983 a partial replica, “Lascaux II,” was opened nearby for public viewing; by the mid-1990s it registered some 300,000 visitors annually.

The inhabitants of what was to become the Perigord region have left so much evidence of their existence and way of life that the valley of the Vézère has become a sanctuary to their memory and a prestigious prehistoric site. Industrious and prosperous tribes of Gauls who lived in the hills and already knew the secrets of iron joined together and became known as the Petrocores.
Under the Romans, they built in the valley the important town of Vésone which became a city in the first century AD and part of the Roman Empire. After the invasions, the antique Civitas Petrocorium became the province of Périgord and played an important part in the struggle for the independence of Aquitaine, before coming under the French monarchy. The French king Henri IV was the last Count of Périgord.

During the Hundred Years War, the region marked the boundary of French and English possessions and was thus the scene of incessant combat, resulting in the many castles which were the bastions of rival factions. Feudal struggles were fierce and the spirit of liberty was evident from early on. The towns were dministered by consuls and walls were built to protect the cities.After the destruction and massacres of the Wars of Religion (1562 - 1598), these military defences were used for the last time during the troubles known as “La Fronde” (1649 - 1652).
During the French Revolution, the Périgord region changed its name in 1790 and became known as theDordogne, with the capital changing successively from Périgueux to Bergerac then Sarlat before finally becoming Périgueux again.

B&B Ferme de Tayac. Lovely B&B in a 12th Century former farmhouse / monastery just 2 minutes from the National Prehistoric Museum. http://www.fermedetayac.com/

Tayac

2007-11-22T19:24:00.000-05:00

Tayac is a very small picturesque village that is part of Les Eyzies de Tayac, although it does not get as overly busy as Les Eyzies.
Tayac is built up against a hill, and around the fortified church and monument "St. Martin".
Tayac is about 800 years older than Les Eyzies, and has a lot of hidden secrets from the Prehistoric Periode, such as a "Roman Temple", Neanderthal settlements, a pre-historic troglodyte site, and a spring that contains healing powers.

Being just 10 minutes walking distance from Les Eyzies it is a very nice place to stay if you wish to keep away from the tourist crowds and busy main street.
B&B Ferme de Tayac, next to St Martin is a former 12th century Farmhouse and Monastery is rated the #1 B&B in the Dordogne. Rooms are large and cozy, and all have a view.

See more of B&B Ferme de Tayac: http://fermedetayac.com

B&B Ferme de Tayac

2007-11-22T15:04:00.000-05:00

The nicest Bed and Breakfast in the Dordogne, B&B Ferme de Tayac a lovely Bed and Breakfast in a 12th century former farmhouse / monastery ideally situated opposite St. Martin, the fortified church of the lovely quaint village Tayac, 0.6 km from Les Eyzies known as the "Prehistoric Capital " of the world.
For hundreds of years "Ferme de Tayac" was worked by the Monks, and with all of it's authentic buildings, ruins, rooms carved into the rock, meter thick fortified walls and original oak beam construction, it's no wonder that "Ferme de Tayac"
is the most loved and talked about Bed and Breakfast.

The bedrooms at "Ferme de Tayac" are former Monks quarters, all with lovely peaceful views of the valley and the many Prehistoric dwellings in the cliffs rock face. The Vezere valley in the "Black Perigord",where "Ferme de Tayac" is situated is known to be the most beautiful region of France,and with more than 250 UNESCO sites, has earned title of being the Prehistoric Capital of the World.
B&B "Ferme de Tayac" is the ideal place to stay whilst exploring and enjoying everything this amazingly beautiful area has to offer. All the main attractions
(and there are LOTS of them) are within 20 minutes from "Ferme de Tayac", some are even in walking distance, and one of them is "Ferme de Tayac".

Visit the official Ferme de Tayac web site : www.fermedetayac.com

Read travellers reviews about Ferme de Tayac:

Tourist Information

2007-11-22T13:31:00.001-05:00

Tourist Information
November 18, 2007
TOURIST OFFICE
19, rue de la Préhistoire
24620 LES EYZIES de TAYAC-SIREUIL - DORDOGNE - FRANCE
Tel : 00 335 53 06 97 05 - Fax : 00 335 53 06 90 79
E-mail : contact@leseyzies.com

Opening hours

From 1st /10 to 31st /3
- open from Monday to Saturday: 9-12 / 2-6

From 1st /4 to 31st /5
- open from Monday to Saturday: 9-12 / 2-6
and on Sunday: 10-12 / 2-5

July and August
- open from Monday to Saturday: 9-7
and on Sunday: 10-12 / 2-6

June and September
- open from Monday to Sunday: 9-6
and on Sunday: 10-12 / 2-5

Availible at the office :

ATM machine or ticket machine
change
cyber cafe
bicycle rental

Getting Here

By the road:
From Paris A10/A20
From Lyon A47/A89
From Bordeaux A89
From Marseille A55/A9/N9/N140/N89
From Nantes A83/D948/N10/D939//N89

By air:
Airport Périgueux-Bassillac: 00 335 53 02 79 70
Airport Bergerac-Roumazières: 00 335 53 57 00 09
T.A.T. Airport Brive (Corrèze): 00 335 55 86 88 36
Airport Bordeaux-Mérignac: 00 335 56 34 50 50

By train:
Train station in Les Eyzies, line Périgueux - Agen: 00 335 53 06 97 22
or enquiry office for travellers: 00 338 36 35 35 35.
A daily train for Périgueux and Sarlat
and everyday a train for Paris.

By bus:
Voyages Rey : 24260 Le Bugue - Tel: 00 335 53 07 27 22 - Fax :00 335 53 54 11 69

Welcome to Les Eyzies de Tayac

2007-11-22T13:16:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Les Eyzies de Tayac, situated in the heart of the Vezere Valley, an unspoilt area of great natural beauty with rolling hills, tranquil rivers and fascinating cliff and rock formations It is home to the world’s most beautiful caves and some with outstanding crystallisations.
Les Eyzies is the home to the National Prehistoric Museum which houses one of the world’s most complete collections of prehistoric artefacts.