In November 2024, the State acquired two exceptional prehistoric sites: the Cro-Magnon shelter and the Saint-Cirq cave, also known as the “Sorcerer’s cave”. These historic monuments, located in the heart of the Vézère valley, considered the capital of prehistoric archaeology, will soon be part of the sites managed by the Center for National Monuments, guaranteeing their preservation and enhancement. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, the “Ornate caves and prehistoric sites of the Vézère valley” bear witness to the historical and artistic importance of these sites. The Cro-Magnon shelter has been famous since 1868, when the first Homo sapiens fossils were discovered by archaeologist Édouard Lartet. With this new acquisition, the Ministry of Culture strengthens the national policy of protection and promotion of prehistoric sites and in particular decorated caves.
Photo: Exterior view of the Grotte de Saint-Cirq © DRAC Nouvelle-Aquitaine
