Brive-la-Gaillarde: the gateway to Lascaux and Rocamadour

In the heart of rural Corrèze in France, Brive-la-Gaillarde remains the gateway to the prehistoric caves of Lascaux and the sanctuary of Rocamadour.

A car is particularly helpful for reaching the surrounding attractions.

The medieval historic center of Brive, with half-timbered houses and cobbled alleyways, animates traditional markets around the ancient Romanesque collegiate church of Saint-Martin.

A few minutes away, the Labenche Museum, housed in an elegant Renaissance palace, displays rich archaeological and historical collections from the entire Limoges region.

Proceeding southward, one reaches Rocamadour, a spectacular sanctuary village clinging to a sheer cliff face, a pilgrimage destination since Medieval times.

As evening approaches, numerous local restaurants serve foie gras and truffles according to the rich gastronomic traditions of nearby Périgord.

The Lascaux caves, discovered by chance in 1940 by four boys searching for their dog, house prehistoric paintings dating back more than seventeen thousand years, now viewable only through a faithful replica to preserve the originals.

Rocamadour, built literally clinging to an almost vertical rocky cliff, remains one of the most visited Christian pilgrimage destinations in all of France after Lourdes and the celebrated Normandy landmark Mont Saint-Michel.