Caves of Les Eyzies, Dordogne, France
Book Hotels
Reserve online, pay at the hotel
'Best price guaranteed' by booking.com
See also: Dordogne car hire
Visit Les Eyzies caves
Return to Caves in Dordogne
The picture above is taken in the Font de Gaume caves courtesy of © CMN Paris (photography is not allowed in the caves). As well as many prehistoric caves around Les Eyzies there is the Musée de Prehistoire (see museums). Some of the caves in this area are listed below:
L'abri Pataud
L'abri Pataud is in the centre of Les-Eyzies-de-Tayac and was lived in by Cro-Magnon for 15,000 years. Many of the items found during archeological digs can be seen in the neighbouring Musée de Prehistoire.
East of Les Eyzies
Grotte de Font de Gaume
The Font de Gaume cave, just over 1km east of Les Eyzies on the D47 has a superb collection of prehistoric paintings. To protect the paintings visitor numbers are limited and in peak season it is best to make a reservation before visiting these caves.

L'Abri du Cap Blanc
9km east of Les Eyzies this natural rock shelter (as opposed to a cave) contains frieze of horses and bison. Considered to be the best example of sculpture of the Middle Magdalenian period in France!
Grotte de Combarelles
This cave, 3km north-east of Les Eyzies contains engravings of animals and some human figures .
Les Grottes du Roc de Cazelle
Also to the east of Les Eyzies are les Grottes du roc de Cazelle which were lived in by pre-historic man and then turned into a fortified house in the Middle Ages. It was lived in until 1966!
La Grotte de Bernifal
This cave is home to both pre-historic paintings and stalactites and stalagmites. It is only open from July to September.
South of Les Eyzies
Grotte de Bara Bahau
Cave system 2km north of Le Bugue, with lots of animal pictures carved into the walls. See Grotte de Bara Bahau.
Le gouffre de Proumeyssac
A wonderful natural cave full of stalactites and stalagmites. See Gouffre de Proumeyssac.
North of Les Eyzies
Grotte du Grand Roc
A few kilometres north-west of Les Eyzies the Grotte du Grand Roc caves contain amazing stalactites and stalagmites. See Grotte du Grand Roc.

Laugerie-Basse
North-west of Les-Eyzies andadjacent to the Grotte du Grand Roc, Laugerie Basse is a pre-historic shelter used by Cro-Magnon man. For more information see Laugerie Basse.
Les abris de Castel-Merle
There are several pre-historic shelters, some containing engravings and sculptures. There is also a museum on-site.
L'abri de la Madelaine
Another pre-historic shelter.
Le Conquil
Le Conquil is a park with troglodyte dwellings. It also has a dinasour park for children and a tree adventure course.
Le Thot
Le Thot is not a cave or a troglodyte dwelling but it is a centre of interest for the Cro-Magnon period. There is an excellent museum of pre-history including some copies of paintings from the Lascaux caves that cannot be seen at Lascaux II. There is also a park with animal species related to those which roamed the earth at the same time as Cro-Magnon men.
Le Préhistoparc de Tursac
Again not a cave but a park presenting scenes of interest related to Cro-Magnon man.
Photo Gallery
Map of Les Eyzies caves & places to visit nearby
Grotte du Grand Roc 0kmFont de Gaume 1km
Chateau de Commarque 2km
Laugerie-Basse 2km
Les Eyzies 4km
Maison Forte de Reignac 4km
Campagne 5km
La Roque Saint Christophe 7km
Le Moustier 7km
The Aquarium 7km
Le Bournat 7km
Le Bugue 7km
Saint Cyprien 8km
Grotte de Bara Bahau 8km
Gouffre de Proumeyssac 8km
Saint-Leon-sur-Vezere 10km
Plazac 11km
Limeuil 12km
Coux et Bigaroque 12km
Siorac-en-Perigord 13km
This page in French: Les Eyzies caves (version Francais)
Comments
Cette grotte était quasiment hermétiquement close jusqu'à sa découverte en 1924 - D'ailleurs pour atteindre son ouverture 2 ans de travaux étaient nécessaires pour créer son tunnel d’accès !
Alors jamais visitée avant le 29 avril 1924 par Jean Maury, son inventeur (oui, c'est moche mais on ne parle pas de découvreur).