In and around this town are a series of prehistoric rock dwellings, the caves include some of the most significant archaeological finds of Upper Paleolithic (40 to 10,000 years ago) and Middle Paleolithic periods - a staggering 200 to 400,000 years ago. There are a series of decorated grottoes in the area that were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979.

We are in the Vézère Valley and the The Vezere River runs through Les Eyziers this river is smaller that The Dordgone River which is 483km's long, there are 37 mountain biking tracks shown on a proper mountain biking trail map we got from the Information Centre. WOW which ones shall we do - they are all classed intermediate or difficult, so we chose one and off we go. It seems tricky to find the actual start but once spotted they are well sign posted to guide you although on bikes you have to be looking all the time as you come upon the markers much faster than walking and sometimes can be past them before you realise it was a turning point. 

It was challenging up and down, sometimes pushing, then great downhills, these are actually walking tracks that are now opened up for mountain biking. We didn't see a single person while riding these tracks, they are fantastic and pop you out into little villages where you see all sorts of quirky things, 12km's mountain biking like this is about 30km's on the road or more with the energy thats needed, we pop out of the first track with grins on our faces - lets choose another, so we decide on The Prehistoric Man Trail that goes along the river and then heads into the bush. I'm thinking - this has got to be easier!!! Yep is was for awhile and then the hill track appeared it went up and up and up, quite a bit of walking and when it plateaued and we were cruising along Rod got a puncture - bummer!!! no problem we are prepared I was glad, it meant I could just sit and have a rest - giving the occasional hand to pump the fixed tube up while looking around for blackberries - there are always heaps of blackberries everywhere you go in France and the flavour varies greatly.

It was a fantastic day and we are so pleased we bought mountain bikes for our trip as there is no way we could have done these trails with the city crosstail bikes that have much skinnier tyres, we really have the best of both worlds, the only down is these bikes are slightly slower on the roads. I love this bike and would to bring it home.