The commune is located at the confluence of the Vézère and the Beune rivers. It is accessible by the SNCF network at the Gare des Eyzies, by the A89 motorway, exit 16 Périgueux-East and then by the D710 road or by Montignac via Terrasson. In the north-west, the commune is also watered by another small tributary of the Vézère, the Manaurie.
Climate
In the Dordogne department, the highest temperature was recorded on 4 and 5 August 2003 at Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, with 43°C.
Neighbouring communes and villages
Population
Toponymy
In Occitan, the commune bears the name Las Aisiás de Taiac e Siruèlh.
History
In March 1868, the geologist Louis Lartet, financed by Henry Christy, discovered the first five skeletons of Cro-Magnons, the earliest known examples of Homo sapiens sapiens, in the Cro-Magnon rock shelter at Les Eyzies-de-Tayac. These skeletons included a foetus, and the skulls found were remarkably modern-looking and much rounder than the earlier Neanderthal.
Economy
As at 31 December 2013, the municipality has 209 establishments, including 151 in the field of commerce, transport or services, twenty relating to the administrative sector, education, health or social action, eighteen in construction, thirteen in the industry, and seven in agriculture, forestry or fishing.
Places and monuments
L'Homme primitif is a statue of Paul Dardé, inaugurated in 1931 and placed on a natural platform that dominates the village of Les Eyzies; It can be approached during the visit of the National Museum of Prehistory.
Natural Sites
Grotte du Grand Roc, cave with natural eccentric crystallisations comparable to corals.
Prehistoric sites
The municipality has many prehistoric archaeological sites including:
The Grotte de Font-de-Gaume, the last cave with prehistoric polychrome paintings still open to visit in the region
Les Combarelles - 600 pre-historic engravings of animals and symbols
Grotte de la Mouthe - ornate cave of the Upper Paleolithic period
La Grotte de Bernifal
The deposit of La Micoque - discovery of numerous testimonies of the lithic industries of the Paleolithic
L'abri du Poisson - carved in low relief at the ceiling of the vault, raised in red colour a salmon
Le vallon de Gorges d'enfer
Les grottes du Roc de Cazelle constitute a troglodytic site occupied from prehistoric times until 1960.
Many of these sites have been classified as World Heritage sites by UNESCO as Sites préhistoriques et grottes ornées de la vallée de la Vézère. The discovery of these shelters within a restricted radius around Les Eyzies, their methodical exploration and the study of the deposits they concealed allowed prehistory to build up as a science and explains why the city claims the status of world capital of the prehistory, as the publicity leaflets recall.
Museum
The National Museum of Prehistory, where many prehistoric discoveries are preserved, is located in the heart of the village. Very rich in carved flints, it is especially aimed at specialists.
