Rock of Solutré, Limestone summit in Saône-et-Loire, France.
Description
Rock of Solutré is a limestone summit that rises prominently from the Mâconnais plain, featuring steep cliffs on its western face and gentler slopes toward the east. The exposed stone shows distinct layering and fractures formed by millions of years of geological upheaval and weathering.
History
Humans hunted at this location roughly 55000 years ago, leaving behind flint tools and animal bones as evidence. Systematic excavations began in 1866 and have confirmed the site's importance as a hunting ground through many millennia.
Culture
The place takes its name from the hunters who once roamed this limestone ridge. Today, visitors can feel how this rocky outcrop shaped human movement and settlement patterns across the region.
Practical
A trail system allows visitors to reach the summit with route options suited to different fitness levels and time constraints. A museum at the base provides context about the site's prehistoric significance before or after hiking.
Did you know?
The site's name may derive from a Celtic word meaning light or fire, though the exact origin remains debated among scholars. This linguistic mystery adds depth to a place already shaped by thousands of years of human activity.
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Burgundy-Franche-Comté encompasses a varied heritage that spans several millennia. The region houses prehistoric sites such as the Roche de Solutré, monasteries founded as early as the 6th century like Baume Abbey, as well as medieval fortresses and Renaissance homes. Natural formations include the...
Saône-et-Loire holds stories from all parts of French history. You can find caves where prehistoric people lived, like the Azé cave with its stalactites or the rocks of Solutré that overlook the vineyards. The area also has Celtic remains at Bibracte, a fortified city on the heights of Mount...
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