tandem42

I am sightseeing in France next week, with a primary focus on prehistoric cave art. Creating an itinerary is challenging me because of the uncertainty of visiting one of the most outstanding caves, Font-de-Gaume (FDG), and I could use some advice from those with experience! (The number of visitors at FDG is limited daily, so I will need to queue around 6:30 am at the ticket office, which opens at 9:30 am. Even so, it is not certain I will obtain at ticket at all, or what time it would be.)

I arrive in Limoges early on Tuesday 16 Sep, will rent a car, and fly out of Brive late on Friday 19 September. From Limoges, I will first drive north to visit Orador-sur-Glanes, and then head head south towards the Vezere River valley where many of the notable caves are located. I had thought I first could stop in Montignac on Tuesday afternoon if time permits to see Lascaux II. But this is where I need help in planning.....or strategizing. Should I try for FDG on Wednesday morning and if that is unsuccessful, try again, or just move on? Should I put it off til Thursday or even Friday, and do other more certain things first? I would like to see Peche Merle, which can book advance tickets, but that means I need to commit to a time soon, and this uncertainty about FDG is handicapping me. Aside from exploring cave art, I would like to spend some morning time in a town on its market day and do a little paddling on the Dordogne (yes, I read about that in Rick Steve's book and it sounds lovely!). I have checked the driving times between many key locations, and they can be significant, so I want to be efficient and avoid driving back and forth if possible.

I had thought I a counter clockwise loop from Montignac to Les Eyzies de Tayac to Sarlat to Les Grotes de Cougnac to Brive would make sense, but that only works if FDG falls into place early on the trip. The FDG uncertainty also complicates accomodation choices -- should I stay in one place for all three nights, or split it... and which locations make the most sense? I don't want to start the trip without a reservation for at least the first night, so that forces some choices before FDG is resolved. (I should add that I am over 60, so am viewing this as a once in a lifetime experience, and I can understand & speak French passably so have flexibility in scheduling tours.)

Thanks for your patience with this story!

MaineGG

Have you tried to make a reservation at FDG?
According to their website, it is possible this year to reserve 26 tickets a day. Reservations must be made by email or telephone. Here's the information from their site:

Grottes de Font de Gaume et des Combarelles: pour des raisons de conservation, nombre de places limité par jour
Billets en vente sur place le jour même, dans la limite des places disponibles.
En 2014, il est possible de réserver ses billets pour Font de Gaume pour 2 visites :
- en basse saison : 15h15 (13 places) et 16h (13 places)
- en haute saison : 13h30 (13 places) et 14h15 (13 places)
Pour la Grotte des Combarelles : 10h (7 places) (en haute et basse saison)
Ces réservations doivent être faites par courriel : [email protected]
ou par téléphone de 14h à 16h30 : 05.53.06.86.00

http://eyzies.monuments-nationaux.fr/fr/

Good luck!

dugi_otok

I would drive directly to Montignac from Limoges and see LascauxII on Tuesday. Then I would drive to Sarlat via Les Eyzies, stopping at the Font-de-Gaume ticket office. They may be willing to reserve a FDG tour for Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Or at least they will advise you on your chance of getting one by first come Wed, Thurs or Fri morning. On Tues you may have time to see Grotto des Combarelles or Grotto du Sorcer in St Cirq. Also La Roque St-Christophe is worth a stop as is the cute village St Leon-sur-Vezere.

It is actually more efficient to stay in one location for the 3 nights. I would spend 3 nights in Sarlat. I would visit Pech Merle on Wednesday (pre book). Reserve Pech Merle for late afternoon which would allow you to visit the Sarlat market in the morning or if you were lucky to get FDG on Wed morning. You will be able to call Pech Merle and change the reservation if need be. I was there last June and was able to reserve for any day including the day I called as all were available.

Thursday and Friday you can do the canoe(there are also boat rides for the less adventuress.) and meander from La Roque-Gageac to Beynac, visit a castle-Beynac, Castelnaud, or Les Milandes. You will want to come back as there is much more to see.

http://www.milandes.com/site.php?langue=ang

Michael

Rouffignac might be a good alternative to Font de Gaume. They now provide (for a fee) an English recording for those who do not understand French.

http://www.grottederouffignac.fr/

tandem42

Maine GG, I did try to reserve at FDG by emailing and calling, to no avail. I think all the reservable-ahead tickets have been allocated.

Dugi, I appreciate your ideas of staying in Sarlat and checking in at the ticket office for FDG on Tuesday. But with the driving distances, and the challenge of tearing myself from Lascaux II, it could be hard to reach the ticket office before they close at 5:15, especially since it could be close to noon by the time I leave Limoges. But are you suggesting to skip Orador-sur-Glanes?

dugi_otok

Yes, I would skip Orador-sur-Glanes.You will save at least two hours which could be dedicated to the Dordogne.Your time in the Dordogne is really quite short. FDG is my favorite, but others here would say Pech Merle.So all is not lost by missing FDG.

But I would stay in Sarlat. It is a nice place, very central and with your uncertain itinerary gives you the most flexibility.

Distances from Sarlat are not that far
Lascauxll 16 miles, 34 min
Font du Gaume 12 miles,24min
Pech Merle 43 miles,1hour 30min
Canoes 6 miles, 20 min
Gabarres boat rides 20 min

dugi_otok

Your Tuesday
Limoges to Lascaux 82 miles, 1 hour 35 min
Lascaux ll to Font du Gaume 15 miles, 33 min
Font du Gaume to Sarlat 12 miles, 24 min

or go directly to Pech Merle on Tues.
Limoges to Pech Merle 112 miles, 2hours 13 min
Could stay over night in Gourdon(1hour) (for Grottes de Cougnac} and/or press on to Sarlat(additional 30min).