Archaeological sites in New Aquitaine

Archaeological Sites & Ruins

Nouvelle-Aquitaine’s archaeological landscape spans millennia, from the world-renowned Upper Paleolithic cave paintings of Lascaux and Rouffignac to the Roman amphitheater of Vesunna in Périgueux. The region features significant Neolithic megaliths like the Dolmen d'Ors and defensive medieval structures, including the UNESCO-listed gates of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Evocative ruins like the overgrown Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers and the fortress of Bidache illustrate centuries of architectural evolution and historical conflict across southwestern France.

Archaeological Sites & Ruins — Map

A

Lascaux Caves

Monumental prehistoric art site containing Upper Paleolithic paintings and engravings primarily of animals. This UNESCO World Heritage site features ancient artistic expressions dating back 17,000 to 22,000 years.

B

Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers

Ruined 13th-century castle featuring 19th-century neo-Gothic architectural elements that was largely destroyed by fire in 1932. It is currently undergoing restoration through a unique collective ownership model involving thousands of enthusiasts from around the world.

David Lally / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Porte St Jacques

A UNESCO-listed medieval stone gateway in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Historically, it served as the primary entrance for pilgrims traveling the Way of Saint James toward Santiago de Compostela.

D

Rouffignac Cave

The Rouffignac cave, in the French commune of Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac in the Dordogne département, contains over 250 engravings…

Jean-Auguste Brutails / Public domain

E

Château de Bellocq

The ruins of the Château de Bellocq are in the commune of Bellocq in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département of France.This Béarnaise fortress…

F

Château de Bagnac

Ruins of a 19th-century neo-Gothic castle in Saint-Bonnet-de-Bellac. Built on the site of an earlier fortress, the structure was abandoned in the mid-20th century and is now overtaken by vegetation.

rosier / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Château de Merpins

Château de Merpins, is a ruined castle in Merpins, Charente-Maritime, France.

H

Château de la Renaudie

The Château de la Renaudie is a ruined château in Saint-Front-la-Rivière, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.

I

Razès, Haute-Vienne

Razès is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in west-central France.

J

Château Barrière

Remains of a medieval castle built between the 12th and 16th centuries in Périgueux. It was constructed directly upon the Roman ramparts of Vesunna and features a notable Gothic-style entrance.

120 / V. Mourre / CC BY-SA 3.0

K

La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1

La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1 is an almost-complete male Neanderthal skeleton discovered in La Chapelle-aux-Saints, France by A. and J.

L

Château de Marthon

The Château de Marthon is a ruined castle in the commune of Marthon in the Charente département of France. Only the keep remains.

M

Amphithéâtre

A 1st-century Roman amphitheater that once seated 18,000 spectators. Today, its remaining stone arches and foundations form the centerpiece of a public garden in Périgueux.

Simon de l'Ouest / CC BY-SA 4.0

N

Dolmen d'Ors dit la Piare

A Neolithic megalithic tomb located on the Île d'Oléron. Dating back over 4,000 years, it is one of the island's most significant prehistoric monuments.

O

Ruines du Château

Ruins of a 12th-century fortress overlooking the Vienne River. The site includes the remains of two massive towers and the ruins of a seigneurial chapel.

Traumrune / CC BY-SA 3.0

P

Tour-porte fortifiée du sud-ouest

A 14th-century fortified gatehouse in the bastide town of Hastingues. This historic monument served as a defensive entrance for the medieval walled settlement.

Rosier / CC BY-SA 3.0

Q

Porte Saint-Jacques

A 15th-century fortified gate flanked by two massive round towers on the banks of the Charente. It was once a primary entry point through Cognac's medieval town walls.

R

Ruines du château de Jovelle

Remains of a 13th-century castle in La Tour-Blanche. The ruins feature a distinctive keep and the remnants of a Gothic chapel.

S

Tour de Piégut

A 12th-century round keep standing on a rocky outcrop. It is the sole surviving element of a medieval castle that was largely destroyed during the French Revolution.

Janfri / CC BY-SA 4.0

T

Château de Bidache

The ancestral seat of the Dukes of Gramont, featuring architecture from the 13th to 17th centuries. The ruins include substantial defensive walls and Renaissance-style window frames.

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