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Cave Art of the Dordogne

Cave Art of the Dordogne

7 days from $5,570

Departing: April 2027 - October 2027

The beauty of the Dordogne is undisputed – lush walnut groves and mellow limestone, dramatic châteaux and sinuous rivers come together in one of France’s most captivating regions. For those fascinated by the past, however, its greatest treasures lie beneath the surface, in one of Europe’s richest concentrations of decorated caves. Here, vivid images of wild animals and human figures survive in ochre and charcoal, some dating back 30,000 years. Decades of research have transformed our understanding of the people who created them, revealing how their art evolved alongside changing environments and societies. We visit some of the region’s world-famous rock art sites, museums and interpretation centres, getting as close as possible to the lives of our Ice Age ancestors and the extraordinary artists who left these remarkable works behind.

Included

  • Explore Font de Gaume & the Lascaux 4 centre, with entrance fees included
  • All other visits as outlined in the itinerary
  • Expert Guide Lecturer & professional Tour Manager
  • 1 night at the Best Western Plus Poitiers Centre Le Grand Hôtel, Poitiers & 5 nights in the Hotel L'Abbaye, St Cyprien
  • 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 6 dinners 
  • Wine & tea or coffee with dinner
  • Return train travel from London St. Pancras 
  • Private air-conditioned coach travel
  • Field notes, taxes & gratuities for local staff

Highlights

  • Discover images from the world-famous painted cave of Lascaux at the Interpretation Centre, Lascaux IV
  • Enjoy an extended itinerary, taking in verdant landscapes and limestone plateaux of the Dordogne and sites around Poitiers
  • Gain insights from renowned experts in rock art and the archaeology of the last Ice Age
  • View the UNESCO-listed cave system at Grotte de Rouffignac

Dr Rob Dinnis

An expert on the Palaeolithic, and particularly the Archaeology of the Last Ice Age. Has led several projects across Europe focused on early Homo Sapiens, and has directed excavations at a number of Late Neanderthal and Early Homo Sapiens Cave sites.

Dr Paul Bahn

The leading expert on Prehistoric Rock Art Worldwide, and is certainly one of our best-known Archaeologists. Led the team which discovered the First Ice Age Cave Art in Britain in 2003. He is not only a leading Academic but a great exponent of popular and accessible Archaeology.

Dr Elodie Laure Jiminez

A researcher in Prehistoric Archaeology studying Human–Animal Interactions and Adaptations during the Ice Age. She has excavated at numerous archaeological sites across Europe and has worked on international research projects in Belgium, Scotland, Wales, France, and the USA.

Tour Itinerary

We take the Eurostar to Poitiers via Paris. Upon arrival, we drive to the village of Angles-sur-l’Anglin, where we see Roc-aux-Sorciers.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Poitiers

Day 1 Cave Art of The Dordogne
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This morning, we travel south to Les Eyzies, making some important stops along the way. Our first is to the small but excellent Museum of Prehistory at Lussac-les-Chateau, dedicated to the local prehistory. We continue to Roc-de-Sers, an important site where a series of sculpted, engraved and painted limestone blocks were discovered (replicas are in situ) and La Chaire à Calvin, a rock shelter decorated with monumental parietal sculptures dating from the Upper Palaeolithic period. We end the day a Les Eyzies, where we stay for the remainder of the tour.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: L’Abbaye Hotel

Day 2 Cave Art of The Dordogne
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We start out at the rock shelter of Cap Blanc, a rare example of Ice Age sculpted bas-reliefs and the best still in situ which are open to the public. After lunch, we visit the 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. Next, we head to the Musée de la Préhistoire and finally, the Musée de l’Abri de Cro-Magnon.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: L’Abbaye Hotel

Day 3 Cave Art of The Dordogne
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This morning, we visit the Lascaux 4 centre, enjoying the facsimile of the now closed to the public cave. Afterwards, we head to the park of Le Thot. Animals bred and kept here are examples of those that would have existed in the Ice Age. We have an independent lunch in Montignac, before dedicating the afternoon to the Lascaux 2 cave. 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.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: L’Abbaye Hotel

Day 4 Cave Art of The Dordogne
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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. Our next stop is the fascinating site of Laugerie Haute, with remains of occupation dating from the Upper Palaeolithic. We end the day at the small rock shelter known as Abri du Poisson.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: L’Abbaye Hotel

Day 5 Cave Art of The Dordogne
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Our first visit is to Cougnac, where two caves found here 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. We 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.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: L’Abbaye Hotel

Day 6 Cave Art of The Dordogne
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We travel back to Paris by train and then by Eurostar to London St Pancras.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 Cave Art of The Dordogne
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Accommodation

The Grand Hôtel sits in the historic town centre of Poiters, surrounded by shops and on the edge of the pedestrianised zone. The town hall is a five-minute walk away, and the Notre-Dame-La-Grande church is another five-minutes from there. The hotel is nestled just off of the main throughfares and avoids much of the street noise. Whilst it does not have a bar or restaurant (there are enough outside the hotel), it does have its own courtyard where breakfast is taken each day in good weather. There is a selection of drinks available from reception. The rooms feature a safe, TV, air-conditioning, minibar, and tea and coffee-making facilities. There is Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

As its name suggests, Hotel L’Abbaye was once an 18th-century abbey. Beautifully renovated, this small hotel retains much of its original character with exposed stone walls, cosy fireplaces and soft-toned fabrics. Its rooms come with air-conditioning, sound-proofing, safety deposit box, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, hairdryer and free Wi-Fi. There is also an outdoor seasonal swimming pool and sun terrace.

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Availability & Booking

2027

27th April from $5,570

Call to Book

12th October from $5,570

Call to Book

from $5,570

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