Prehistoric Perigord France

Day 38 Thursday 11 June 2026

Today we visited one of the many sites that show examples of how the limestone caves in the area have been used since prehistoric man.

Then it turned out to be a ‘driving’ day as we travelled through some villages and farmland stopping in the pretty village of St.Jean de Cole.

Having previously seen one of the many troglodyte sites we decided on having a look at the Roc de Cazelle. Arriving just after opening time at 10am we pay €10pp and with our map and english translated pamphlet go and explore. The visit takes you from prehistory to the Middle Ages, when the site was excavated and then converted into a fortified castle. We followed the path that took us up into the steep cliffs, that had been entirely excavated into caves, refuges, underground passages and habitats in which countless tools and weapons carved by prehistoric man have been collected. There were over 100 perfectly-recreated characters and animals, including life-size mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses.

The visit ended at the monolithic house of the last inhabitants of Cazelle, which was carved entirely out of the rock (troglodytic dwelling) and was still occupied in the 1960s. The traditional dwelling has been reconstructed, in keeping with local Périgord customs and history.The route was easy, fun and effortless, organized in chronological order to take us  on a journey through time.

A prehistoric couple..

When you stop to buy a baguette, you can stop anywhere 

We then pointed Bluey in the direction of St.Jean de Cole, a classified pretty village of France. It was once a bustling town ideally located on the road between Thiviers and Nontron. It is characterized by a charming set of medieval village houses , which converge on a central square, flanked by a 12th century castle and just opposite, a church and its priory . The village was attacked by the English in 1394, then taken over by the French in 1404. It was the Pope who then ordered the reconstruction of the church around 1436. Unfortunately it suffered further destruction during WWII.

 

We continued to the medieval bridge, in Romanesque style built during the 15th century. Next to it is a lovely mill.

113km today