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Montignac, France

Montignac, France.

Montignac is a commune and small town in the department of Dordogne. It is situated in the historic region of Périgord Noir, just below the confluence of the River Vézère and the Laurence, a small river which rises near the town of Thenon.

Montignac is the main centre for visiting the prehistoric sites in the Vézère valley. The modern part of the town to the south of the river has several hotels and the tourist office. To the north of the river lies the old town, where there are a maze of streets with fourteenth- to sixteenth-century timbered houses. A market is held here twice weekly and there are restaurants where visitors can sit beside the river under medieval timbered beams.

Montignac has a historic bridge, from which fireworks are launched on holidays such as Bastille Day and during the summer festival of world folklore and dance, which is held annually in July.

The main attraction of the region is the Lascaux Cave, actually a complex of caves containing Upper Paleolithic painted art discovered in 1940 and estimated to be 17,300 years old. The cave was put on show in 1948, but it was found that the paintings were being damaged by the carbon dioxide exhaled by visitors, and in 1963, the cave was closed to the public.

A replica cave, known as Lascaux II, was opened nearby in 1983, so that visitors could still experience the paintings without damaging the originals. In 1979, Lascaux was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list along with other prehistoric sites in the Vézère valley.

Get in

By car. There are at least three car parks in Montignac, and many roads leading in.

Get around

There are quite a few roads through Montignac; at least a quarter are pedestrianized, so it is mostly best to walk. If you are driving, be aware that the town operates a one way system.

What to See in Montignac

• The Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley, Lascaux (2km south of Montignac). The prehistoric sites are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Note that visitors go see a replica of the caves completed in 1983 as carbon dioxide from tourists previously caused damaged to the original paintings.

Reproductions of some Lascaux artworks in Lascaux II.

• The small festival, held every summer on the bridge, with fireworks.

What to Do in Montignac

• Walk over the bridge, especially quite late at night, as it is beautiful at this time.

• Visit the Chateau de Reignac.

• Hire a canoe from one of the many kayak tours and enjoy up to 6hours of river scenery.

• Crazy Golf course. Can be found by following the footpaths under the new bridge.

Buy

There are several shops, and, of course, the busy market place. It really is very busy on market days, so be careful where you walk (and what you buy of course).

Beside the tourist office and the ticket office for Lascaux's Cave II there is an exhibition area selling local goods and produce and along near the main car park is another building that specialises in selling goods from South American, African and Asians countries.

Eat

Several restaurants are existent around the town, with good French food.

Sleep

• Résidence Pierre & Vacances du Lac. The residence lies in a beautiful, leafy setting on the shores of a lake in a huge landscaped park. It is made up of houses and apartments, and the architecture is based on the local tradition of fortified towns: staggered roofs with Roman tiles, façades in stone colours with herringbone patterns, arcades and outdoor staircases. To relax, there is a swimming pool and a solarium equipped with deckchairs and parasols, subject to availability, and a play area for children. (Wikivoyage, Wikipedia)