Abri de la Madeleine
Archaeological Site Prehistoric rock shelter, type-site for Magdalenian culture
A rock-shelter site in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Abri de la Madeleine gave its name to the Magdalenian prehistoric culture; visitors come for archaeology, museum exhibits and Dordogne’s Paleolithic landscape.
Abri de la Madeleine is a shallow rock shelter in the Vézère valley of southwestern France that gave its name to the Magdalenian Upper Paleolithic culture. It is one of the reference prehistoric sites in the Dordogne region.
Excavations at the shelter in the 19th century produced the distinctive assemblage of tools and art that led scholars to define the Magdalenian cultural phase, dated roughly to 17,000-12,000 years ago. The site’s material contributed to the understanding of late Paleolithic technology and art in Western Europe.
The shelter lies in the Vézère valley near Les Eyzies in the Dordogne department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, set among a dense cluster of Paleolithic caves, abris and archaeological sites.
- Type site for the Magdalenian: Site of the original excavations that defined the Magdalenian archaeological culture, whose name derives from this shelter's finds dating to the Upper Paleolithic (roughly 17,000-12,000 years ago).
- Nearby prehistoric sites: Part of the Vézère valley prehistoric landscape near Les Eyzies, the shelter is best visited together with nearby caves and abris that form a dense concentration of Paleolithic sites.
How to Get to Abri de la Madeleine #
Abri de la Madeleine is in the Vézère valley near Tursac in Dordogne. The nearest larger town is Sarlat‑la‑Canéda (about 20-30 minutes by car). There is no regular public transport to the shelter; visitors generally drive or take regional tour services that visit prehistoric sites in the valley.
Tips for Visiting Abri de la Madeleine #
- Visit at low summer light to see stain‑like tool marks and the calcified roofline inside the shelter.
- Pair the visit with other Dordogne prehistoric sites-Lascaux II is roughly an hour's drive to the north.
- Respect the site: it's an archaeological shelter and soft‑rock surfaces preserve millennia of markings.
Best Time to Visit Abri de la Madeleine #
Best between late spring and early autumn when rural roads and nearby museums are open.
Weather & Climate near Abri de la Madeleine #
Abri de la Madeleine's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 26°C. Moderate rainfall (907 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 26°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 26°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. The wettest month with 89 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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