Today we really must get some touring done, but it says a lot about the Bond here that we oversleep. Maybe that's also because the morning is cloudy and cool. As we rustle up some breakfast, I decide on a route that promises to be spectacular as is covers the River Vezere, the Valley of Mankind. A clue as to what's there, is in the name, a prehistoric adventure into the past.
Regrettably, it's a later start than I would like at 10.30 am as we head for Les-Eyzies-de-Tayac, first stopping at Miremont to see the rail viaduct there. Onward towards the town, we get our first glimpse of the cave dwellings. Originally occupied by prehistoric people, they are still in use today. Just a couple of kilometres before Les-Eyzies-de-Tayac, we stop again at Grotte du Grand Roc which has a cave system and cliff houses. For 9.50 Euro you can explore the cave and the museum. Already, I have decided not to commit to pay entrance fees yet. I just want to understand more about Mankind.
We press on into the town of Les Eyzies noting that this is a popular tourist town, then head to another cave, Grotte de Font-de-Gaume. This cave is one of the few still open where prehistoric paintings can be found. However, only around 50 visitors are allowed in per day and by appointment only and with little English translations. Entry is 13 Euro. There is one more similar attraction further on, Grotte des Combarelles, but we decide to head back into town and park-up.
Les Eyzies is another attractive town and this morning there is a local market. I purchase some cured meat then some local Bordeaux wine, a real bargain. We then spend time exploring the souvenir shops and grab something to eat. Finally, we head for The Valley of Mankind, stopping at the railway station on the way where there is some amazing street art depicting local scenes, right on the platform.
Heading up the valley, we locate Maison Forte de Reignac, a unique Chateau Falaise with period furnishings throughout. Further up the valley is La Roque Saint-Christophe, one of the richest sites in the Black Perigord where humans lived 50,000 years ago. This platform could accommodate 1,500 people in medieval times. We next visit Saint-Leon-sur-Vezere, a lovely hamlet with two private castles, a church and craft shops. A paid attraction here is The Keep & Manoir de La Salle dating back to the 12th Century. It has exceptional architecture and gardens. Note that a combined price with the last two attractions is available.
We next pass Losse Castle and Le Thot without stopping. The latter has a museum the shows how Lascaux II cave was built. It also has a park and zoo. It's into late afternoon and time to reach the visitor centre of Lascaux II but it closes soon at 5.00 pm. Lascaux II is a remarkable reproduction of the upper part of the original Lascaux Cave. Unfortunately we won't be able to explore this wonderful creation. It's time to head back to Constant but not before stopping at Le Bugue for grocery shopping.
Today has demonstrated what a wealth of attractions the Perigord has. There is seemingly something at every turn. I would like to visit one of the caves before I return but it's still been a facination day today.

The Vezere is a 211-km-long river in southwestern France. It is an important tributary to the Dordogne. Its source is in the northwestern part of the elevated plateau known as the Massif Central. It flows into the Dordogne from the right near Le Bugue. The river Correze is a tributary of the Vezere.
The Valley of Mankind, (Vezere Valley) contains numerous traces of prehistoric and early settlement and according to UNESCO, who have the valley listed as a UNESCO French world Heritage sites, there are 147 prehistoric sites and 25 painted caves in the valley.
The Grand Roc cave is located in the French commune of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil in the Perigord Noir. It is a cave with concretions, with no known prehistoric occupation. It is one of the fifteen 'prehistoric sites and decorated caves of the Vezere valley' listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Font-de-Gaume is a cave near Les Eyzies in the Dordogne department of south-west France. The cave contains prehistoric polychrome cave paintings and engravings dating to the Magdalenian period. Discovered in 1901, more than 200 images have been identified in Font-de-Gaume. Along with other nearby prehistoric archeological sites, Font-de-Gaume is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Les-Eyzies-de-Tayac is a village in the heart of the Vezere Valley (in the centre of the Dordogne) and within easy access of a great number of prehistoric caves and drawings and remnants. It is because of this, and the beauty of the surrounding natural environment, that the village is a very popular base for visitors exploring this unique region.
The Maison Forte de Reignac (fortified house of Reignac) is a castle located in the commune of Tursac in the Dordogne, and remains the last intact example of a cliff castle. Like many sites in the Vezere valley, the site of the Reignac cliff was occupied in prehistoric times. The first excavations in 1952 brought to light a large deposit of cut flints dating from the Magdalenian period.
The cave system at La Roque-Saint-Christophe is a large prehistoric settlement complex situated about nine kilometres north of Les Eyzies, on the south bank of the Vezere River, in a very scenic and attractive location. La Roque-St-Christophe is the largest settlement of its type in Europe.
The Manoir de Saint-Leon, also known as Donjon and Manoir de la Salle consists of a 15th-century manor house and a square keep with a 12th-century corner tower. This architectural ensemble constitutes a dwelling inhabited in the Middle Ages. It has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1957.
Lascaux II a partial but spectacular and highly accurate replica of Lascaux, was opened to the public in 1983. This allowed 1000s of people to experience the Ice Age cave art of Lascaux that is now closed to everyone, indefinitely. Since the opening of Lascaux IV, a less rushed, more in-depth experience is on offer at Lascaux II. Now, you get to enter the Hall of the Bulls and see those extraordinary images, as close as is possible, just as the prehistoric people did all those years ago.

Source: Visit, Wikipedia, France This Way and Archaeology-travel.