Passage Through Time 2002 Itinerary

Passage Through Time: Itinerary Page 3

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Day 12 - Wed, Sept. 18
Sarlat-la-Canéda - Lascaux Cave II B/D
This morning will feature the incomparable art of Lascaux Cave. The facts: sixteen hundred figures, archeological excavations, carbon-14 dates, the ensuing green illness, the restricted access and an engaging tale of discovery. We will visit the amazing exact duplicate of the Hall of Bulls in Lascaux II where every animal painting is faithfully reproduced providing a opportunity to study this pinnacle of cave art created 17,600 years ago. We have arranged a special extended visit to the site, to allow ample time to soak up its wonders.

Later, we will visit the charming medieval village of Sariat-la-Caneda. You'll have time for lunch and to wander through the town's narrow streets past gourmet shops (famous for truffles, fole gras and fruit brandies) and revel at the architecture which has been left unspoiled for nearly 1000 years.

After lunch we will explore the famous rock shelter of La Madeleine that was occupied from the 11th - 19th centuries.

	Rouffignac Cave
	Rouffignac is one of the longest and most ramifide caves with palaeolithic paintings. The cave itself was known long ago. It was mentioned in F. de Belfore's "Universal cosmography of the world (1575). A plan of the cave with an indication of ancient inscriptions on the Large Decorated Ceiling was made at the end of the last centure" (Martel). In 1956 the piece of land with the cave was bought by the Plassard family. The same year their friends, archaeologists Romain Robert and Louis-Rene Nougier visited the estate. On the 26-th of June Robert, looking at the wall of the cave, called his friend: "Hi, Toto, come here and see!". These were depictions of two mammoths - an obvious testimony of their palaeolithic age. Since that time the paintings and engravings of Rouffingac cave became the object of close study by specialists and the place of continuous pilgrimage for tourists. The cave being very long, a narrow-gauge railway with special mini-trains, consisting of open platforms each for 6-8 persons, was made there. Special lamps are fixed on the platforms, lightening some sections of the walls with paintings while the train is passing by.

Day 13 - Thu, Sept. 19
Troglodyte Shelters B/L
This day will be dedicated to the Troglodyte living sites along the Vézère River. We will spend the morning and have lunch at Castel-Merle, where we will see demonstrations of the lifeways of our ancestors, including fire lighting, wall painting, flint knapping and jewelry artworks.

Enjoy the remainder of the day enjoying the charms of Les Eyzies.

Day 14 - Fri, Sept. 20
Cap Blanc Cave - Rouffignac Cave B/D
Today we will visit two very exceptional sites. The one kilometer ride on a small electric train within Rouffignac Cave is one of the best conservation ideas ever put into practice. Called "The Cave of a Hundred Mammoths", Rouffignac has art of greater diversity than the name suggests. The rare woolly rhino, horses and ibex (a European mountain goat) are so vivid that there was controversy over some claims that the art was a forgery.

Cap Blanc Cave offers more than painting and engraving. Here, we will see high-relief that goes beyond mere shallow picking, to reveal horses of life-sized dimension carved into the cliff wall, some so deeply sculpted that they almost appear to be statues overlooking the site where the carvers lived.

Day 15 - Sat, Sep. 21
St. Emilion - Bordeaux B/L/D
Our coach ride to Bordeaux is the transition from the calm of rural Les Eyzies to the bustling wine country of Bordeaux, and the sophisticated and lively city of St. Emilion. In this famous wine district of Bordeaux. After lunch, there will be time for a brief walk through this charming medieval city. From St. Emilion, we will travel a short distance to the cosmopolitan city of Bordeaux. Synonymous with the wine industry, Bordeaux is the capital of the Aquitaine region, and is its largest city. Our hotel is situated nearby great shopping and restaurants. Enjoy.

Overnight: Hotel Saint Catherine

Day 16 - Sun, Sep. 22 B
Bordeaux - Home

After breakfast we’ll transfer to the airport for our flight home. (Treat yourself to extra days in fabulous Bordeaux or other cities in Europe - call TravelQuest at 800-830-1998).

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Copyright 2002 TravelQuest International. All rights reserved.
Revised: October 25, 2005.
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