The Vezere Valley » Vezere Valley

Madeleine

admin — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:16:54 +0000

Why did men settle on the banks of the Vezere for over 400, 000 years?
First of all for the quality of life. But also because nature always provided food and shelter.
Under the effect of erosion, the limestone cliffs hollowed out. These shelters were used by all the men who followed one another through the Aquitaine. Prehistoric man found there an easy natural dwelling place and in medieval times, fortresses and villages were built there.
At the bottom of the well-positioned cliff along the Vezere River(South, Southwest) groups of hunters settled under a rock shelter. The community grew and was continnously inhabited until the end of the ice era, 10,000 years ago.

The Madeleine and lots more can be seen on Walking Dordogne’s ” Canoe & Hike the Vezere” trip and

www.walkingdordogne.com

Canoeing the Vezere

admin — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:25:07 +0000

Some of the nicest prehistoric sites, caves and troglodytes can be found directly along the Vezere River, tucked away among the sheer cliffs that dominate certain parts of the Vezere River.
Canoeing combined with hiking is often the only way to reach these sites.

These sites can be seen on Walking Dordogne’s ” Canoe & Hike the Vezere” trip and

www.walkingdordogne.com

Vezere River Dwellings

admin — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:58:20 +0000

This cluster of troglodytes are about 15 – 20 meters high in the middle of a sheer rock face, that overlooks the Vezere River. These dwellings would have been used to hide from invaders coming up the river or the valley.
These troglodytes would have housed numerous large families.

These dwellings can be seen on Walking Dordogne’s ” Canoe & Hike the Vezere” trip and

www.walkingdordogne.com

Family Troglodyte

admin — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:00:11 +0000

This Troglodyte was used to hide from invaders, the entrance is very small, and about 4 meters off the ground, and about 1 meter inside the cliff, so trying to enter from above, using a rope, would be extremely difficult, almost impossible with someone in the troglodyte shooting arrows at you, or poking an 8 foot spear at you.
The entrance is very small, but once inside, this troglodyte is like a palace. Enough room for a large family, and a lot of supplies.

This troglodyte and lots more can be explored with Walking Dordogne on the ” Ring of Eyzies” tour

www.walkingdordogne.com

Troglodyte 2

admin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:58:41 +0000

This Troglodyte is in the Beune Valley, near Chateau du Commargue.

This Troglodyte and lots more can be explored on Walking Dordogne’s “Cro Magnon, Romans and Templars” tour

www.walkingdordogne.com

Disguised Troglodyte

admin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:30:23 +0000

This wonderful unmapped Troglodyte really blends in with the surrounding area, and if you do not know where it is, you can easily walk straight past it.
This natural split in a rock, was an ideal shelter for our prehistoric ancestors, through the years, it has changed from being just a natural shelter, a thick stone wall has been added, complete with door and lookout holes.

This cave can be explored on Walking Dordogne’s ” Valley of Caves” trip and “Ode to the Neanderthal” trip