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Origin and history

The Grand Roc Cave is a natural cavity located in the valley of the Vézère, in the commune of Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil in Dordogne. Unlike other caves in the region, it has no trace of prehistoric occupation, but is distinguished by its spectacular mineral concretions, including helictites and rare calcite triangles. These geological formations, coloured by oxides of iron, clay or manganese, create an underground landscape nicknamed "mineral forest". The cave is dug in limestones dating from the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian-Santonian), on the right bank of the Vézère, near the Laugerie-Basse shelter.

The discovery of the cave belongs to Jean Maury, a speleologist and prehistorist, who in 1924 spotted a porch in the cliff as he searched the "Marseilles" deposit at Laugerie-Basse. After two years of work to drill a 40-metre tunnel into the rock, he entered the cavity with his daughter and sister. The cave, designed for tourism, opened its doors to the public in 1947. Its fragile concretions, protected by barriers and windows, make it a remarkable site, classified as "prehistoric sites and caves adorned by the Vézère Valley" by UNESCO in 1979, although its status was questioned in 2014 due to its lack of human traces.

Legally, the cave and its cliffs enjoy several protections: registration in the inventory of picturesque sites in 1944 and 1977, and UNESCO World Heritage classification. In 2014, the departmental council of the Dordogne was the owner. The site, which attracts about 58,000 visitors per year (2022), is also distinguished by two Michelin stars. Despite debates about its relevance in the UNESCO list, the cave remains an exceptional geological testimony, complementing the prehistoric heritage of the Vézère valley.

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