Grotte de Font de Gaume and Lascaux II

My taxi tour to the prehistoric caves near Sarlat

I really wanted to go see Lascaux II, but I didn't want to rent a car, so I booked a taxi tour from Sarlat with Allo-Philippe Taxi. He (Philippe) picked me up at my hotel at noon. While I had booked a private tour for 4.5 hours for 128 euros, another couple joined me, so we had a 6 hour tour for 192 euros, which we split 3 ways.


Our first stop was Grotte de Font de Gaume. It is a prehistoric cave with polychrome paintings that have not been restored. Only 180 people can go in per day (in groups of 12 with a guide), and there aren't many English tours. Philippe had booked me on the 1:00 pm English tour for 8 euros ($11), and it turned out there were enough spots for the other couple to come, too.	After buying a ticket in the green, shed-like souvenir shop, there is a walk up to the cave entrance.

Because the cave is natural and very tight in spots, no bags are allowed. There is a "storage" cave on the left where bags are locked up during the visit. (The door on the right is the entrance to the cave.)	This was one of those experiences that you have to actually see. No cameras are allowed to protect the paintings. We had an awesome guide who gave our group a tour of over an hour!
Click here to see some of what I saw at Grotte de Font-de-Gaume (these are links to related websites with photos): Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13

This was the taxi I took the tour in. Very comfortable!	I ate lunch before the tour, but the couple brough sandwiches with them. Philippe is checking on our next stop while we enjoy the shade for a minute. (It was very hot, in the high 80s or low 90s!)

Our second stop was Maison Forte de Reignac, a fortified house built into a cliff. Entry was 6.80 euros ($9.50).	Here was the first view of it from the parking lot.

There were several furnished rooms. This was the dining room.	These paintings up on the cliff represent what the cliff and house may have looked like over the years.

It was fun to climb up above the house into the cliff. The views were very nice.	Here you can see how the house was built into the side of the cliff.

Here is a nice view of the house and cliff from across the road (in the far parking lot).	Our final stop was Lascaux II, the re-creation of the best of the prehistoric caves polychrome paintings. Admission was 8.50 euros ($12). While Font-de-Gaume is more special, Lascaux II's paintings are prettier and more impressive at face value.

This is the shelter where the group with our timeslot (4:30 pm) lined up. We were on a French-language tour. This website has info on what we saw, since no photos are allowed (even though the cave is a replica).	The man in black was our tour guide. He did a good job, and I was able to understand more than half of what he said. He also answered a few questions in English.

After Lascaux II, we drove back to Sarlat. We got back almost exactly at 6 pm. What a fun trip!

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