http://www.roque-st-christophe.com/#
This large prehistoric settlement complex is found about 9 km 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 such settlement in Europe.
There is an extensive series of caves that have been carved out of the soft limestone cliff, initially by the action of the river. The cliff is almost a kilometre in length and 80 metres high.
Approximately 55,000 years ago man first started to inhabit hese natural caves. It was from the 6th - 16th centuries that the cliff also became developed as a village, with numerous buildings and fortifications backing onto the cliff. It seems likely that the village was occupied continuously during this entire period, until it was finally abandoned in 1588.
You can now see numerous visual remnants of the dwellings that once covered this section of the cliff. There are also various reconstructions at the site, showing the dwellings as they would have been, the types of tools and winches used during construction, and so on. You can also learn the fascinating the history of the fort built up the cliff in the 10th century, and the treasure abandoned by the English that might just still be hidden somewhere in the cave system.
