A short history of the village of Montignac-Lascaux
Montignac-Lascaux was occupied since the Paleolithic. Mother Prehistory left us a legacy the Lascaux cave, discovered in September 1940 and the deposit of Regourdou.
A fortress was present from the beginning of the Middle Ages until the 10th century. It passed by marriage to the Count of Périgord in the following century and became an important stronghold.
Several times dismantled during wars, the castle was destroyed in 1825. Only a tower and the infrastructure remain.
The Montignac-Lascaux bridge, burned in 1580 by Protestants, was rebuilt then swept away by the floods of 1620. The current bridge, built between 1766 and 1777, replaced the ferry used for 150 years.
The city is made up of two centers of life located on either side of the Vézère. There we find medieval lanes narrow with houses on stilts, half-timbered, wash houses and fountains.
The city also has a rich religious heritage with its convents and its priory. Famous people from Montignac-Lascaux: the writer Eugène Le Roy, author of “Jacquou le Croquant”, the moralist Joseph Joubert, the fabulist Pierre Lachambaudie…
To see and do in Montignac-Lascaux
The city contains one of the jewels of cave art: the Lascaux cave. You can visit 200 meters from the original, the facsimile, called “ Lascaux II », which opened its doors on July 18, 1983. And since December 2016, Lascaux IV-International Center for Cave Art a more complete and unpublished replica traces the discovery of the famous decorated cave.
Not far from the original cave come and discover the site of Regourdou. You will take an exciting journey into the past, discovering theNeanderthal man with its chasm, its deposits, its museum and its bears.
Nestled upstream of the Vézère valley, Montignac-Lascaux is the ideal starting point for a canoe descent on the Vézère. For the more sporty, 44km await you to the village of Limeuil.
You can also leave the village to hike on foot :
- Saladie Woods Loop
- Lascaux walking loop
- Coulonge ponds loop
- In the footsteps of the men of Lascaux: roaming along the Vézère valley.
or mountain bike :
- Montignac-Lascaux -> La Filolie
- Montignac-Lascaux -> Lascaux
- Montignac-Lascaux -> Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
- Montignac-Lascaux -> Valojoulx
The Montignac-Lascaux leisure park offers you a mini golf and inflatable structures.
Fancy a guided tour of the village ? Download the commented circuit of Montignac-Lascaux by one of the most renowned storytellers of Périgord directly to your smartphones (on Android or Itunes).
Geocacher friends, a poï'z is hiding in the village of Montignac-Lascaux! Quickly download the Tèrra Aventura application!
Activities, festivities in Montignac-Lascaux
Several events take place throughout the year:
- March: Tree, Wood and Flower Day
- April: CLIC CLAC photographic meeting
- July: World Dance and Music Festival “Cultures in the Hearts”
- July to October: Périgord Noir Festival
- September: Recovery Festival
- November: Lébérou Tales Festival
- DocumenTerre Film Festival
Come stroll through the markets which are held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
The little extras of the village of Montignac-Lascaux
- The village has a pleasant motorhome service area close to the river.
- In July/August welcome markets take place every Monday evening
- Electric bike rental 7 days a week, 7 hours a day (Find out more)
