Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
English booklet at the turnstile; stop to take in the picture showing its medieval buildings;
and climb through the one-way circuit, which is slippery when damp.
Cost and Hours:
€8, daily July-Aug 10:00-20:00, Sept-Dec and Feb-June
10:00-18:00, Jan 14:00-17:30, last entry 45 minutes before closing, lots of steps, eight
kilometers north of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, follow signs to
Montignac,
tel. 05 53 50 70 45.
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Grottes de Cougnac
Located 23kilometers southofSarlat (allow 30minutes) andthree well-signed kilometers
north of Gourdon on D-704, this cave holds fascinating rock formations and the oldest
(14,000-25,000-year-old) paintings open to the public. Less touristy than other sites, it
providesamoreintimatelookatcaveart,asguidestakemoretimetoexplainthecavesand
paintings(yourguideshouldgivesomeexplanationsinEnglish—askifheorshedoesn't).
The 1.5-hour tour begins in a cave where the guide explains the geological forma-
tions(you'lllearnthatittakes70yearsforwatertomakeitfromtheearth'ssurfaceintothe
cave). From this first cave, you'll return to the fresh air and walk 15 minutes to a second
cave—andthepaintingsyoucametosee.Theyareworththewait.Vividdepictions(about
10) of ibex, mammoths, and giant deer
(Megaloceros),
as well as a few nifty representa-
tions of humans, are outlined in rust or black. The rendering of the giant deer's antlers is
exquisite, and many paintings use the cave's form to add depth and movement.
Because access is first-come, first-served (and groups are limited to 25), try to arrive
first thing (ideally 10 minutes before opening). In the off-season, be careful not to arrive
tooclosetothelasttourbeforelunch(11:30)—ifthattourisfull,you'llhavetowaitforthe
14:30 departure. The caves are damp, so expect a few drops on your head (hats or hoods
help).English-onlytourshappenonoccasion(callaheadtochecktimes);youcanalsobuy
a €5 English booklet about the site.
Cost and Hours:
€7.50; these hours correspond to first/last tour times: July-Aug
daily 10:00-18:00; April-June and Sept daily 10:00-11:30 & 14:30-17:00; Oct Mon-Sat
14:00-16:00, closed Sun; closed Nov-March; free WCs, beverages sold on-site, tel. 05 65
41 47 54,
www.grottesdecougnac.com
.
Located two hours north of Sarlat and 27 kilometers west of Limoges, Oradour-sur-Glane
is one of the most powerful sights in France—worth
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. French schoolchildren know
this town well; most make a pilgrimage here.
Village des Martyrs,
as it is known, was
