The main base for visiting many of the prehistoric painted caves of the Vézère valley is LES EYZIES-DE-TAYAC, an unattractive one-street village completely dedicated to tourism. But while you're here, visit the Musée National de Préhistoire (daily except Tues: April–June, Sept & Nov 9.30am–noon & 2–6pm; July & Aug 9.30am–7pm; Dec–March 9.30am–noon & 2–5pm; €4.50), which exhibits numerous prehistoric artefacts and copies of one of the most beautiful pieces of Stone Age art, two clay bison from the Tuc d'Audoubert cave in the Pyrenees. Look out, too, for the small bas-relief of an exaggerated female figure holding what looks like a slice of watermelon, found near Laussel, known as the Vénus à la Corne (Venus with the Horn of Plenty): the original is in the Musée d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux.In 1990, local farmer M. Pataud opened his own extensive private collection of prehistoric finds, next door in the Musée de l'Abri Pataud (early Feb to March & mid-Nov to Dec Tues–Thurs 10am–12.30pm & 2–5.30pm; April–June & Sept to mid-Nov Tues–Thurs & Sun 10am–12.30pm & 2–6pm; July & Aug daily 10am–7pm; closed Jan & early Feb; €5). Much of the stuff was discovered during archeological digs in the 1950s and 1960s on Pataud's farmland, which, it transpired, lay over an abri (shelter) used by reindeer hunters for more than 20,000 years.
Pages in section ‘Les Eyzies’: Practicalities.
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