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.