La Madeleine Grand Site
The Madeleine Grand Site, an invitation to go back in time ... This exceptional natural site, one of the best preserved in the Vézère Valley, has attracted man from prehistory to the present day. At the cliff's foot, semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers has settled here 17,000. The prehistoric site of the site gave its name to this prehistoric civilization: the Magdalenian. The exhibition traces the great discoveries of the archaeological site: the engraved Mammoth, the burial of the child of the Madeleine, whose know for his adornment, made of more than 1150 pierced shells ... And of course, the masterpiece, the peak of our Cro-Magnon ancestor's art : the Bison "who licks his side". Halfway up, you will discover a medieval troglodyte village. Which has been inhabited between the early Middle Ages and the end of the 19th century. Among the buildings craved in the rock, a remarkable Gothic chapel from the fifteenth century, which appears to be hanging from the cliff. On the upper floor, on the calcareous plateau, you can find the remains of the Petit-Marzac castle, built in the 13th century. Here, you will notice the ingenuity and the know-how of these rural "troglodytes", who knew how to take advantage of their natural environment (stone, wood, water and agricultural lands) to build their refuge. We are wondering today about the use of our resources, coming to draw inspiration from what has been done at the Madeleine can serve as an example for our future. Situated In the heart of the Périgord Noir, the village of the Madeleine welcomes you all year long : family visits, group or guided school tours. Visitors also have a picnic area along with a beautiful view of the valley. What's new, this year?! The creation of a dozen apairies, to preserve bee colonies. Get ready to experience an extraordinary journey, through history, from prehistory (-17,000 years) to the present days, passing by the Middle Ages ... Enjoy your visit !
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