In Crayssac, 10 minutes from Cahors, on the heights of the Lot valley, a rather unusual beach awaits you.
With no sand and no sea, the Plage aux Ptérosaures (Pterosaur Beach) is a unique paleontological site, which can only be visited on guided tours in summer.
Here, there are no bones, but footprints.
During the Jurassic period, crustaceans, mollusks, crocodilians, turtles, dinosaurs, and pterosaurs left their footprints in their habitat, a sun-drenched lagoon.
“Each track is a moment in the life of an animal that lived 150 million years ago: a pterosaur in the rain, another landing, a dinosaur turning around... This lively approach allows visitors to engage in real Jurassic investigations.”
The abundance, diversity, and quality of the footprints discovered make this site unique in Europe. The tracks discovered at La Plage aux Ptérosaures have helped explain how pterosaurs moved. They were quadrupedal reptiles, not bipedal as the scientific community believed before the discovery of the Crayssac footprint site.
"Now a global scientific reference for pterosaur and other reptile tracks, this site offers an original and dynamic approach to paleontology, while providing scientists from around the world with information on the ichnology (the science of footprints and tracks) of pterosaurs, as well as dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles, lizards, and even small crustaceans, thanks to the use of low-angle lighting to highlight submillimeter-sized footprints."
The site offers small group guided tours to ensure an authentic and intimate experience. To guarantee optimal immersion, visitor numbers are limited to 25 people per hour. Be sure to book in advance so you don't miss out on this unique opportunity!
The organizers want to help you discover these treasures, take the time to talk with you, and introduce you to the exciting work of paleontologists, the meticulous study of footprints, the identification of their creators, and the methods used to reconstruct these extinct animals.
This year, for an even more personalized experience, immerse yourself in the exclusive “In Complete Intimacy” tour.
Plage aux Ptérosaures
Mas de Pégourdy,
46150 Crayssac
Tel.: +33 (0)5 65 23 32 48 & +33 (0)5 65 53 20 65
https://www.plageauxpterosaures.fr/
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