www.lascaux-dordogne.com. Archaeologists have been trawling the Vézère valley for prehistoric remains since the 19thC, but it took four boys and a dog to stumble upon the finest cave paintings of them all. The Grotte de Lascaux was discovered in 1940, and opened to the public for less than 20 years before humidity and carbon dioxide took such a savage toll on the paintings that the cave was closed. In 1983, a brilliant reconstruction, Lascaux II, was opened complete with painstakingly copied drawings using the same methods and painting materials as the originals (2 km S via the D104e; tickets from the tourist office in Montignac).

With a ticket for Lascaux II in hand and a few hours to spare, Montignac is a pleasant old town in which to while away the time. Next door to the tourist office, the Musée Eugène-le-Roy is named after the local 19thC author whose rustic novels sit perfectly with the traditional furniture and crafts on display.