The national collections
The National Museum of Prehistory in Les Eyzies keeps the national collections of the discipline: more than six million objects in storage, of which eighteen thousand are on display. By volume, it is the largest prehistoric collection in Europe.
The setting is spectacular. The museum is built against the cliff that overlooks the village, in a medieval castle extended by a contemporary wing that opened in 2004.
A journey through time
The visit follows chronological order, from the first worked pebbles to the beginnings of the Neolithic. It draws on the sites of the Vézère valley (La Ferrassie, Le Moustier, Laugerie and La Madeleine), for which the museum holds the reference material.
There is no shortage of major pieces: Magdalenian portable art, burials and typical series of stone tools. On the terrace, the statue of a Neanderthal sculpted by Paul Dardé in 1930 has watched over the village for almost a century.
Where to start
This is the logical starting point for a prehistoric stay in the Périgord. A visit here gives you the keys to everything you will see around it, including the site of La Madeleine, the carved frieze of Cap Blanc and the engravings of Font de Gaume. Our Vézère valley weekend puts it all in order.
The museum states a commitment to accessibility, but please confirm the details of the wheelchair route by phone.
Practical information was checked in October 2026: please confirm opening times and book on the official website before your visit.