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Le Centenaire: Right in the heart of prehistory!
There's so much to see here! It's no exaggeration to say that Le Centenaire is located right in the heart of prehistory. The prehistoric deposits serve as a backdrop, a setting rich with 5000 years of history.
Tourism saved Les Eziés. The first prehistoric deposits were discovered in 1862 by Lartet and Christy just steps away from Le Centenaire. It was in this spot, six years later, that the fossilized bones of Cro-Magnon man were found, who remains to this day the first European representative of Homo sapiens sapiens. But where does the name Cro-Magnon come from? It corresponds to the Occitan words "cros," meaning deep, and "crosa," meaning cave. Magnon could be a person's name, but on this point, too, history is a bit fuzzy …
The hotel is situated at the heart of a megalopolis made up of about 20 arrondissements, like Paris. But make no mistake… here they are prehistoric districts! Pay close attention to the cliff. The holes you'll notice are shelters and tombs.
Before becoming Les Eziés, the medieval village of Tayac enjoyed a well-chosen site at the confluence of various little tributary valleys. The château, now a museum, is firmly wedged up against the cliff.
You can visit the Combarelles and Font-de-Gaume caves and the Abri du Cap Blanc, a natural rock shelter, as well as the prehistoric findings of Laugerie Basse and Laugerie Haute.
Returning to Le Centenaire, why not relax in the hotel pool, heated to 26° C, before going in to dinner?
Extend your stay…
Visit Roland Mazère's favourite spots: Sarlat (3 stars in the Michelin guide, just like Carcassone); and Beynac, called the golden triangle. Discover another side of the Dordogne Valley from Montfort to Domme (a fortified village called a Bastide.) You can visit the Château de Castelnaud, unless perhaps you'd prefer to take a barge cruise down the river.
The area is crawling with castles, "bastides" fortified villages and parading grounds that add to it all a feeling of greatness and splendor.
Montignac and the Vézère Valley - to me it's a magical spot! You'll discover the village of St. Geniès, the facsimile of Lascaux in Montignac, and troglodyte villages (La Roque St. Christophe or La Madeleine).
There are some very beautiful villages here. You need to take the time to explore the countryside and travel the side roads on bicycle. There are so many extraordinary things to see, smell and hear. It's a world of green with just enough hills. Stop with us for a while!
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