Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley World Heritage Site

Official name
Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley | UNESCO
Country
France | Map
Continent
Europe
Location
Communes of Les Eyzies de Tayac, Tursac, Montignac-sur-Vézère, Saint-Leon-sur-Vézère, Marquay, Manaurie-Rouffignac and Saint-Cirq-du Bugue, Department of the Dordogne, Region of Aquitaine
45.5750° Lat, 1.1700° Lon | Map
Code
85
Time Zone
Europe/Paris (CET, +0100)
Current Time
Category
Cultural
Description
Inscribed 1979. The Vézère valley contains 147 prehistoric sites dating from the Palaeolithic and 25 decorated caves. It is particularly interesting from an ethnological and anthropological, as well as an aesthetic point of view because of its cave paintings, especially those of the Lascaux Cave, whose discovery in 1940 was of great importance for the history of prehistoric art. The hunting scenes show some 100 animal figures, which are remarkable for their detail, rich colours and lifelike quality.