Bernard,
I think most 'experts' concur that Neanderthals were in Europe as early as 250,000 years ago.
[www.modernhumanorigins.com]

"The range of traits in Neanderthals is very broad, and specimens can be looked at in three groups: early Neanderthals (approximately 250 kyr to 130 kyr), the Neanderthals that existed during the transition to the Upper Paleolithic (approximately 130 kyr to 45 kyr), and the late surviving Neanderthals ( after 45 kyr). The traits that make up each group will be discussed, along with this will be descriptions of some specific specimens.

Lower Paleolithic Neanderthals

As always in the anagenesis of one species into another, there is a "fuzzy" area which prevents the pinning down a a date when "A" became "B". In the case of heidelbergensis to neanderthalensis, this boundary seems to have the Neanderthals first appearing between 250 kyr to 200 kyr. The specimens that can be attributed as some of the earlier Neanderthals include material from Pontnewydd Cave, Vértesszöllos, Ehringsdorf, Casal de'Pazzi, Biache, La Chaise, Montmaurin, Prince, Lazaret, Fontéchevade, and possibly the very latest material from Atapuerca."