Les Eyzies is a small river side village deep in the heart of the Vézère valley some 24 km SW of the Lascaux caves in the Périgord area of Dordogne in south west France. The village and surrounding area is steeped in prehistory, there are many caves and grottos including the cave of the original Cro-Magnon man and in the village itself there are some stunning cave houses which are carved into the limestone rock face of the surrounding cliffs.

The whole area has been classified by UNESCO as world heritage site due to its outstanding beauty and historic importance but it doesn't really matter if you're in to history or not as Les Eyzies is just so beautiful.

If exploring the village leaves you wanting more then there's plenty to do nearby.

Canoeing and kayaking
If you're up for adventure you could try canoeing down the Vezere river, you can hire a canoe or kayak from the river bank at the base of the village. There are guided trips that will take you through the heart of the valley and past many historic sites.

Museum of Prehistory
Les Eyzies is also home to France's museum of prehistory which unlike many museums has a policy of showing original artefacts rather than copies or reproductions. The museum displays the history or early man in and around the Périgord region and also has some extremely lifelike models of both Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon man, these models were recreated from real skeletons using modern day forensic techniques usually used to identify human remains.

Font de Gaume
This cave can be found just outside of Les Eyzies on the road toward Sarlat. The cave is home to around 250 prehistoric paintings depicting bison, reindeer and even rhinoceroses. It gives a stunning insight into what the Dordogne would have been like for our ancient ancestors.

Grottes de Lacave
Although rather commercial this cave is still worth visiting, you are taken deep underground in a small open electric train to view fabulous stalagmites and stalactites as well as atmospherically lit underground pools.

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