Les Eyzies de Tayac sits in the Vézère Valley in the Dordogne, in the limestone country of southwestern France, and it claims the title of "world capital of prehistory" without much argument. The cliffs above the village are riddled with caves and rock shelters used by humans for more than 250,000 years, and the valley as a whole contains more recognised UNESCO prehistoric sites than anywhere else on Earth.
The centrepiece is Font-de-Gaume, a cave on the road toward Sarlat containing polychrome paintings from around 14,000 BC — mainly bison, mammoths, and horses, rendered in red and black with a sophistication that still surprises visitors. It is one of the last decorated caves in France still open to the public; access is limited and booking in advance is strongly recommended. The National Museum of Prehistory is in the village itself, housed partly in a rock overhang, and covers the full span of human presence in the valley. The carved friezes at Abri du Cap Blanc, a few kilometres away, are among the best above-ground prehistoric sculptures in the world.
The village itself is small and tourist-oriented in season, but the setting is beautiful: the Vézère winds through the valley below limestone cliffs draped with oak trees, and the walking is excellent. The entire valley can be explored on foot, by canoe, or by bicycle. Sarlat is about 20 kilometres to the southeast and makes a good base if you want more town amenities.