Montignac
Montignac-Lascaux, or Montignac-sur-Vézère, is one of the many destinations well worth a visit during your stay at our campsite near Montignac.
The picturesque and historic streets invite you to discover famous figures, the heritage and the history of the town. Among the places not to be missed in Montignac is the International Centre for Cave Art, where all the art in the Lascaux caves is reproduced.
Visitors are also interested in places such as the Maison Duchêne, the Priory of Saint-Georges Church, the Saint-Jean Hospital or the Rue de la Pégerie. From our Montignac campsite you will be ideally placed to visit the town and the famous Lascaux caves.
Take advantage of your holiday in the Dordogne in the south west of France to visit some of the most beautiful villages in France, as well as the many castles in the Dordogne valley.
Where is Montignac?
Montignac is located in the Dordogne département, along the Dordogne river in the middle of nature, in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
The town owes its reputation to the Lascaux caves and, more broadly, to the richness of its historical and cultural heritage; places such as the Place Pautauberge, the Convent of the Poor Clares or the Maison Duchêne are part of this rich heritage.
Montignac is also a stopover or a starting point for the discovery of other destinations.
The nearest towns are Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère (11 km) and Coly (11.6 km).
Many holidaymakers also take the opportunity to visit more famous destinations such as Les Eyzies (24 km), Sarlat-la-Canéda (26 km), Domme (38.5 km) or even Brive-la-Gaillarde (47 km).
History of Montignac-Lascaux
The first human communities established in Montignac date back to the Paleolithic period. It was these distant ancestors who occupied the famous Lascaux caves, discovered in September 1940.
Among the remains in the area, there is a fortress whose origins date back to the early Middle Ages.
In the 11th century, it passed into the hands of the Count of Périgord, who decided to make it an important stronghold. However, the castle is far from being impregnable. Abandoned several times, the building was destroyed in 1825. Only the tower and the infrastructure remain.
The bridge of Montignac is another important ruin in the town. Destroyed by fire by the Protestants in 1580, the structure was rebuilt and then washed away by the floods of 1620. The population used a ferry instead for a hundred and fifty years. Construction of the present bridge began in 1766 and ended in 1777.
The town is made up of two centres located on either side of the Vézère. Medieval alleys, houses on stilts and timber-framed buildings, wash houses and fountains make up the decor of its historic centre.
The town is also appreciated for its rich religious heritage with its convents and priory.
During your stay at our Montignac campsite, you will also follow in the footsteps of famous people. Among them are the writer Eugène Le Roy, author of “Jacquou le Croquant”, the moralist Joseph Joubert and the fabulist Pierre Lachambaudie…
The Montignac Festival
The 2020 Montignac Festival will take place on 31 July, and 1 and 2 August. Residents and visitors will enjoy three days of festivities, discoveries, exchanges, meetings and sharing. The “Cultures aux Cœurs” festival is one of the major events of the summer season in the Vézère valley. Every year, the town of Montignac offers an eclectic programme that will delight both locals and holidaymakers.
Several free activities are scheduled throughout the day. The public can also enjoy performances on the main stage each night, as well as a free concert at the festival’s bodega. Exhibitions and sales of arts and crafts are also on the programme, including the opening of the town’s craft market on the weekend of the festival, followed by a series of lectures, film screenings, debates …
Visit the Lascaux Caves during your stay at our Montignac campsite
The Vézère Valley is known worldwide for its high concentration of prehistoric caves. It is in this fascinating territory that the commune of Les Eyzies, the “world capital of prehistory”, is located, known among other things for its Font-de-Gaume cave. The town of Montignac is not to be outdone, and owes its reputation to the Lascaux Caves.
The site was discovered by teenagers in September 1940. The cave system has not been open to the public since 1963 for conservation reasons. The public can nevertheless get an idea of the treasures it contains by visiting the copy (Lascaux II) open since 1983. Better still, since 2016 the International Centre for Cave Art (Lascaux IV) has shown of a complete reproduction of the art in the Lascaux caves.
Lascaux IV gives an accurate picture of the cave paintings that were made over 17,000 years ago. The facility also provides an accurate view of the prehistoric landscape and wildlife.
Top 5 must-sees in Montignac, Dordogne
- Lascaux caves: one of the most famous prehistoric sites and the most beautiful natural sites in the Vézère valley. The “Sistine Chapel of Cave Art” is noted above all for its paintings and engravings made about 18,000 years ago.
- Parc du Thot: The park of the Thot is an educational visit for children which allows them to better understand the relations between humans and animals during Prehistory. It contains a wolf park, a mini-farm, a lookout, a picnic area and areas for workshops.
- Château de Losse: This ancient medieval fortress located 5 km from Montignac attracts visitors with its architecture, its moat, its furniture, its elegant terraced gardens and its peaceful setting.
- Regourdou: This old cave has been converted into a wildlife park. You will see bears and can visit the small museum that traces the archaeological excavations carried out on the site.
- Eglise Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens: This beautiful Romanesque church built between the 13th and 18th centuries is a listed historic monument. It has a remarkable bell tower in a very good state of preservation.
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