The birthplace of prehistoric artStrung along some 40 kilometres of the Vézère valley between Les Eyzies-de-Tayac and Montignac, in the Dordogne of south-western France, lies an exceptional concentration of prehistory. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, the ensemble takes in 147 Palaeolithic sites and 25 decorated caves, among the most important in the world for the study of Upper Palaeolithic cave art. Lascaux and its neighboursThe most famous of all is Lascaux, near Montignac, whose discovery in 1940 marked a turning point in the history of prehistoric art: skilfully composed hunting scenes bring together about a hundred animal figures of extraordinary observation, colour and vivacity. Other renowned sites include the caves of Font-de-Gaume and Les Combarelles, the sculpted frieze of horses at Cap Blanc, and the rock shelter of Laussel, source of the celebrated 'Venus of Laussel' relief. An archive of vanished worldsThe valley has yielded hundreds of thousands of remains — on the order of half a million worked flint objects along with bone tools and works of art — testifying to civilisations that reach back well before recorded antiquity, into the Palaeolithic. Their interest is universal, as much historical as ethnological, anthropological and aesthetic. Visiting the valleyTo protect its fragile paintings, Lascaux itself is closed to the public, but faithful replicas (Lascaux II and Lascaux IV) allow visitors to experience the art. More than half of the other sites remain open, several of them managed by France's Centre des monuments nationaux with guided tours. Location: Vézère valley, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FranceExtent: 147 Palaeolithic sites and 25 decorated caves over c. 40 kmHighlights: Lascaux, Font-de-Gaume, Les Combarelles, Cap Blanc, LausselStatus: UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979Visiting: Lascaux closed; replicas and many caves open with guided tours
