For those who have been, which cave is best for kids and why? We will have a 2 yr-old and a 7 year-old.

The caves at Rouffignac have a small electric train which takes vistors through the caverns. Even if the children don't appreciate the prehistoric art, the train ride could be an attraction.

The Gouffre de Padirac includes a boat ride. It's quite spectacular, but there are no prehistoric drawings, however.

I hate to say this, but why are you taking a 2 year old into a cave? We just took visitors to a small cave near us at Cougnac, and unfortunatly the whole tour was ruined by a number of children, several very young, who obviously didn't get anything from the tour and disturbed others who were trying to listen to the guide. We did in fact feel sorry for the kids who were asked to stand still, not touch anything, and listen to the guide explaining in great detail. Rather a lot for a two year old.

I can't offhand think of any where you are not kept in a group with a guide, but if you can find one, your kids might be more comfortable there.

It is my understanding that some have tours and some do not. That is why I asked for which ones and why. I know that some are smaller than others, some have tours while others have someone guides (the difference being someone there only to answer questions and someone to tell you about the cave as you walk through it), etc. If there is one that is interesting and one that we can walk through largely unguided, I think that is what we want to do. Of course, the 7 rr-old will love it. We also plan on going to the prehistory museum. Rouffignac might be perfect for us (thanks laverendrye)

Also, some young children (not a 2 yr-old, I admit) will get more out of an experience than others. Some people were surprised when we took our son, at age 4, to the Louvre. He loved it, and, as we haed back for the third time since then, it is still the place he wants to go back to once again. Moreover, I am distrubed as much by adults who want to continue talking in such situations as I am by the children. At least I do not expect small children to behave any better.

Rouffignac, though it has that train that's probably enticing for kids, doesn't have any chromatic paintings that I can recall - lots of engravings and I think some black/gray paintings perhaps. It's a fascinating place but totally different from the chromatic caves.

I can't think of a single cave in the Dordogne (and I think I've been to them all - some many times) where there isn't a guide, and usually a strict one who begins the tour with a list of rules and monitors them very carefully throughout the visit. It's crucial to these people that walls don't get touched and so forth. That said, I took my kids into all the caves when they were young, and they did just fine. It's often the adults who can't follow the rules.

I think you should take your kids to Lascaux II. First of all, because it's a replica, the guides aren't quite as concerned as the guides in the "real" chromatic caves. Theré's also more room at Lascaux to maneuever - the rooms and passageways are bigger. It's easier to get on an English-speaking tour, too. And of course the paintings are stunning, bright, and vivid, not always the case in the original caves. And your kids will also learn about how they created the replica, which is a tale in itself. And a ticket to Lascaux II comes with a ticket to Le Thot, an open-air prehistory site with a lot of things of interest to young children, including a life-size replica of a wooly mammoth.

And on the road between Les Eyzies and Montignac are a few things your kids might enjoy: the PrehistoParc, with replicas of scenes from prehistoric life; La Roque St-Christophe, which is a fabulous site that was inhabited over something like 70,000 years, including up to the Resistance; and Le Village Troglodytique de la Madeleine, a troglodyte village where your kids could definitely move around and explore.

Hope this helps...

St. Cirq:

Thank you so much. That really helps. We will be staying at a gite near Montignac. Since you know the area amd took your children there, do you have any additional insight (places not to miss, resturants, etc.)? We have spent all of our recent vacations in France, so we have an idea of what to expect, but I have not had as much time to prepare for this trip and feel as if I am not quite ready.

Thanks.

We will be in the Dordogne in August and I have heard recently that some of the caves are replicas - it kind of puts me off - I don't really think a replica is something I want to see but I am interested in anyone's feedback
we have an 18 and 15 year old
I can understand that a replica might be fine for a young child but....
thanks

The ONLY cave that is a replica is Lascaux II - where do people "hear" this stuff and how does it "put you off?" - Lascaux is probably one of the finest chromatic caves ever discovered in all of creation, and the re-creation of it is amazing. It's not like you'd be able to see anything like it anywhere else in the world, so why would you be so "put off" by not being able to see the real thing? ? If so, go to Font-de-Gaume, les Combarelles, and other "original" caves. Just be sure to make reservations weel in advance, especially if you want a tour in English. Like 3 months in advance if you're planning on a visit this summer.

Ditto StCirq, both times.

Hi, Dan:

I'm in a super busy spell at work this week, but if you click on my screen name you should find a few thousand posts from me, with innumerable ones relating to restaurants and things to do in the Dordogne. Help yourself.