Caves & Castles
Small Group
Guided Archaeology Tours
& Self Catering Holidays
Dordogne, France
Caves, Castles and Vines
Guided Archaeology, Medieval & Wine Tour
including Lascaux, Bordeaux & St Emilion
This Custom Guided Archaeology Tour is special - it finishes in Bordeaux where you stay at a wine producing chateau for two nights.
We start your Tour with a visit to Lascaux II - this has to be seen for its sheer scale and the range of artistic techniques used by our ancestors. You can’t help but be impressed.
On Saturday we sample Sarlat medieval town with its colourful bustl-ing market and Castelnaud, an awe-inspiring castle with spectacular views over the Dordogne and surrounding countryside. On Sunday we visit the Lot Valley - the scenery is stunning - and Grotte de Pech Merle is incredible!
On Monday we drive to Bordeaux and in the afternoon visit Grotte de Pair-non-Pair - one of the most important and emotive sites you’ll see. On the second day we explore Bordeaux and the famous wine area of St Emilion and, of course, sample the local wines.
Steve is your guide throughout this special Tour of archaeology and medieval history - and he’ll take you to restaurants you’d never find on your own! One is hidden in the woods and their colourful dishes constantly change with the seasons!
The provisional Itinerary is as follows:
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Day 1 |
Arrive at Limoges or Bergerac airports, Brive-la-Gaillarde rail station - check out our FREE transfers from Brive |
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Day 2 |
An informal Introduction to the Vezere Valley before visiting Lascaux II, the stunning replica of the world famous painted caves and Rouffignac - 'the Hundred Mammoths Cave |
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Day 3 |
Visits to Font de Gaume - 230 exceptional multi-coloured wall paintings and Les Combarelles - famous for its 600+ engravings - especially the 'Drinking Deer'. |
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Day 4 |
We go to Les Eyzies - The National Museum of Prehistory, superb collections from all the major sites in France. Abri Pataud - 13,000 years of human activity right in front of you! Abri Cro-Magnon which gave its name to our species. |
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Day 5 |
Explore Sarlat medieval town and its bustling market in the morning, then a visit to Castelnaud castle an awe-inspiring castle with spectacular views over the Dordogne river and countryside. |
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Day 6 |
Today we head to the Lot Valley, enjoy a typically French lunch (a gastronomic treat!). This is followed by visits to Grotte de Pech Merle with its horses, mammoths, hands and enigmatic signs and St. Cirq Lapopie, a stunning hilltop village perched high above the river. |
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Day 7 |
Depart for Bordeaux and in the afternoon visit Grotte de Pair-non-Pair with its magnificent engravings, one of the most important and emotive sites you’ll see. Evening vineyard tour at the chateau where we stay for two nights |
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Day 8 |
We explore Bordeaux, recently added to the register of World Heritage Sites. Later, we soak up the medieval atmosphere of St Emilion where you can sample some of the wines for which this area has been famed for centuries. |
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Day 9 |
Departure from Bordeaux St Jean Station or airport. |
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Interested? Contact us now to find out more | |
at a wine producing chateau in
Bordeaux. Taste the wines
Discover with us a restaurant hidden away in the woods where they produce colourful, seasonal dishes....
cure their own succulent meats,
make wonderful tasty pates and delicious liqueurs to round off your meal.
and dine al fresco
Having explored the Vezere Valley and its treasures, such as
Lascaux II. We stay