Guided Private Tour - Castles and Prehistoric Cave Art

Bonjour, Living and working in France for over 24 years, my tours are carefully designed to give you a unique and authentic experience. 
As a professional guide of prehistoric cave art I worked as curator of an exceptional site - La Magdaleine des Albis - in the Tarn. In the Dordogne I have worked at 2 major sites: Font de Gaume and Lascaux II. 
Having studied prehistory for over 23 years I have an in depth knowledge of this ancient and mysterious culture. I would love to share my knowledge with you. 
And as a practising professional artist I will be able to help you discover many of the incredible techniques used in this fabulous ancient artwork. 
We can go off the beaten track, or visit the traditional highlights like the state of the art Lascaux IV museum. 
There are many other sites to see in this region. The beautiful countryside is full of layers of history and listed UNESCO valleys. We will discover hidden local gems, leaving you with some wonderful memories. After we have travelled through the mysteries of prehistory, and local history there are the region's culinary delights - famous for its gastronomy, including its truffles and I don't mean the chocolates - although the local homemade chocolates are delicious as well! Welcoming people from different cultures is something I really enjoy. And the tours will include insights into the French way of life, therefore instead of having a monologue-type observation, we will enter into friendly conversation exploring this fascinating country and its rich cultural heritage. 
Customised tours can also be tailored and we arrange to explore further afield in other regions. So please just ask. 
Learning some painting skills is also an option. I have designed a tour where you can learn how to create your own travel diary journal. Once learnt, this can then be useful and pleasurable tool to, a way of remembering the experience. And a great way to create something personal and original for yourself, or a friend. The light here is wonderful. All abilities are very welcome. Please see my excellent reviews on this site and another here. " As activities director for our small group of strangers from different countries, I was very impressed with Ann's kind and thoughtful way as she met the needs of each very different person. Guests ranged from the adventurous and active outdoors person to the sedentary one with a mobility disorder; from the lively and irreverent, to the shy and elegant. And there were language barriers to overcome among French, English and Japanese speakers. All of these challenges appeared easy for Ann. Her good humour always carried the day. I loved her extraordinary knowledge of history and art, and her intuitive inclusiveness, always making sure that everyone was comfortable, and nobody neglected. I am certain that I would very much enjoy another excursion with Ann's leadership, should I be so lucky in the future. " Bachelor of Arts . 26 years of Prehistory studies. Professional Tour Guide in Luxury Industry. Chef in 3 star Restaurant/ Hotel. Working in the Luxury Hospitality Industry I have developed some fantastic connections with my clients. For 10 years I lived in the Tarn where I worked as the curator/ guide a prehistoric cave La Magdaleine des Albis containing extraordinary cave art. As a practising professional artist and custodian I was given the privilege to see the real Cave of Chauvet in the Ardèche which is closed to the public. As a professional guide I have worked at the caves of Font de Gaume and Lascaux II and at Chateau des Milandes, the former home of Josephine Baker. Working on a luxury VIP peniche as guide/ translator, we travelled on one of France's most beautiful canals, where I organised fun trips to the cultural and historic sites of interest along the way. Where there is a specific guide on site I have to let them show you around, however, I will be able to bring more relevant detail and information to your visit and be able to make it a much more memorable experience.