Discovered in 1922, the 1200m-long Grotte de Pech Merle is one of the few decorated caves discovered around the Lot Valley. It has several wonderful galleries of mammoths, bison and dappled horses, as well as unique hand tracings, fingerprints and human figures. Look out for the beautifully preserved adolescent footprint, clearly imprinted in the clay floor.
Entry is by guided tour (reserve ahead for English) and includes a museum and 20-minute film (French and English). Reserve ahead by phone in peak season; visitors are limited to 700 per day.
Find it perched high on the hills above the riverside town of Les Cabrerets, 30km northeast of Cahors.
