virtual tour caves of lascaux

This French Life

Take a virtual tour through the Lascaux caves

YOU can take a virtual tour of the Grotte de Lascaux in a great 3D representation of the famous caves.

Travel through the Hall of the Bulls, and see the deer, bison and men painted on the walls thousands of years ago.

The caves, which are found in the Dordogne, were closed to the public after fears over them being damaged, instead a copy was built close to the cave entrance for visitors to stroll around.

But if you can’t get to the caves of Lascaux then this online version offers you the chance to explore the different sections and if you slide down the index bar to the left of the screen an English language version is available.

What are the Lascaux Caves? A guide to these prehistoric wonders

The Lascaux caves are a complex of caves located in southwestern France. They are famous for their prehistoric cave paintings, which were discovered by four teenagers in 1940. The paintings depict various animals, such as horses, deer, and bulls, as well as abstract symbols and human figures.

Take a ‘real life’ tour of Lascaux

From Sarlat-la-Canéda: Lascaux IV and Cave Art Full-Day Tour

The Lascaux caves are estimated to be around 17,000 years old and are considered to be some of the finest examples of prehistoric art in the world. The paintings are thought to have been created by early humans using natural pigments and a variety of techniques, such as blowing paint through tubes and using their hands to create stencils. The caves were used for various purposes over the centuries, including as a burial site and a shelter for animals. Today, the caves are closed to the public to protect the delicate paintings from damage.

Discovery of the Lascaux Caves

The Lascaux Caves are a complex of caves located in southwestern France. They were discovered in 1940 by a group of four teenage boys who were out walking in the woods. The boys stumbled upon the entrance to the caves and decided to explore them.

The caves were found to contain a series of prehistoric paintings, which are now considered to be some of the finest examples of Palaeolithic art in the world. The discovery of the Lascaux Caves was a major event in the field of archaeology and has led to a better understanding of the lives and culture of early humans.

Initial exploration

After discovering the caves, the boys went to a local schoolteacher named Léon Laval, who was also an amateur archaeologist. Laval was amazed by what he saw and immediately contacted the French government to report the discovery.

A team of experts was sent to the site to investigate further. They found that the caves contained over 600 paintings, including depictions of animals such as horses, deer, and bulls. The paintings were created using a variety of techniques, including finger painting, blowing paint through a straw, and using brushes made from animal hair.

The experts also discovered that the caves had been used by early humans as a shelter. They found evidence of fire pits, stone tools, and other artefacts that indicated that the caves had been occupied for thousands of years.

In conclusion, the discovery of the Lascaux Caves was a significant event in the history of archaeology. The caves contain some of the most important examples of prehistoric art in the world and have provided valuable insights into the lives and culture of early humans.

Description of the Lascaux caves

The Lascaux Caves are a complex network of underground caves located in southwestern France. They were discovered by a group of teenagers in 1940 and contain some of the most well-preserved examples of prehistoric art in the world. The caves are estimated to be around 17,000 years old and were likely used by early humans as a place of worship and ritual.

Layout of the caves

The Lascaux Caves are made up of a series of interconnected chambers and corridors, totalling over 600 meters in length. The main chamber, known as the Hall of the Bulls, is the largest and contains several large paintings of bulls, horses, and other animals. Other chambers include the Axial Gallery, the Chamber of Felines, and the Nave.

Paintings and Engravings

The walls of the Lascaux Caves are covered in a variety of prehistoric paintings and engravings. The most famous of these are the large, vivid depictions of bulls and horses in the Hall of the Bulls. Other animals depicted in the caves include deer, bison, and aurochs. The paintings were created using natural pigments, such as iron oxide and charcoal, and were likely made using a variety of techniques, including finger painting and blowing paint through reeds.

Significance of the art

The art found in the Lascaux Caves is significant for several reasons. First, it provides a glimpse into the lives and beliefs of early humans. The paintings and engravings depict animals that were an important source of food and materials for early humans, as well as abstract symbols that may have had religious or spiritual significance. Additionally, the art is significant for its technical and artistic sophistication. The use of shading and perspective in the paintings suggests a level of artistic skill that was previously thought to be absent in prehistoric art.

Overall, the Lascaux Caves are an important archaeological site that provides valuable insight into the lives and beliefs of early humans. The art found in the caves is a testament to the creativity and skill of our ancestors and serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage that we share.

Book a ‘real life’ tour of Lascaux

By Craig McGinty

Thank you for reading This French Life, join me in living life the French way.

12 comments

it’s in french…… BOOOOO. get billugual already

Don’t fret Ben, please see: http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/?lng=en#/en/00.xml

This website is AMAZING! I don’t have 4 hours to explore it fully, but in the half hour I went through the caves, WOW!

Great site! I’m doing an art presentation on Lascaux to a 3rd grade class. I’d love to show this video, to give the kids a sense of exploring a cave and finding this treasure trove. Can this video be downloaded? thanx!

My boys (under 10) and I went to Lascaux a few years ago and were blown away by the intricacy of it all. Well done to the French for creating an EXACT replica of Lascaux to the nearest mm, so we can see all its glories there, without our effects on the humidity affecting the original. Great idea.

Comments are closed.

The discovery of the monumental Lascaux cave in 1940 brought with it a new era in our knowledge of both prehistoric art and human origins. Today, the cave continues to feed our collective imagination and to profoundly move new generations of visitors from around the world.

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Interactive visit

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Visit lascaux.

Lascaux II, Lascaux III and, since 2016, Lascaux IV - International Centre for Parietal Art, allows visitors from around the world to discover these exceptionnal, inaccessible works, and to live a unique, sense-filled experience.

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Lascaux ii&iii, media & resources.

The entrance of the cave, a few days after its discovery in 1940.

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04 275 49 75

4 dec 2021 > 31 may 2022 Exhibition /// Immersion 3D/VR

Lascaux Experiences

A safe visit

Individuals

LASCAUX, THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS CAVE, TRANSPORTED TO FLÉMALLE/LIÈGE BY THE MAGIC OF VIRTUAL REALITY

BE AMONG THE FIRST TO REDISCOVER THE GREATEST WORK OF ART OF THE PREHISTORIC ERA.

LIVE A TOTAL EXPERIENCE  : virtual reality, interactive exhibition and archaeologist-led workshops 

The discovery of the cave paintings of Lascaux, in the Dordogne, completely transformed our vision of Prehistory and the origins of human art. This monumental site and world heritage for all humankind can now be accessed virtually and immersively at the Préhistomuseum.

Enter the enchanting world of a cave network. Trace with your fingertips a herd of horses galloping across the cave wall. Lift your head and, suddenly, the figure of a wild bull emerges before your eyes. One moment, the paintings seem to melt into the rock, the next they spring to life as you turn a corner. This is an immersion in virtual reality thanks to a revolutionary technology that makes the cave accessible to all in guaranteed comfort.  

From virtual to real, the physical exhibition that accompanies the immersion decodes this treasure of art history through 8 modules:

1. The history of the discovery : discover the history and the journey of the four teenagers and the dog who discovered Lascaux. 2. The evolution of the reproduction technology : discover the work of the artists and technicians who reproduced Lascaux. 3. A miraculously preserved cave : discover why this site was chosen to create the most spectacular sanctuary in prehistory. 4. The oldest "visual narrative" in the world : discover the story of the "well scene". It appears to us as a film to which only the sound would be missing. 5. An interactive exploration of the paintings and engravings : discover how the artists of Lascaux managed to create movement and tell a story on the walls. 6. Research around an enigma : discover the fine details of the engravings, the set of mysterious signs that perhaps form the language of Cro-Magnon men and the tools used to paint Lascaux 7. The life and culture of Cro-Magnon : discover the tools and food remains found in the cave. They tell you how these populations lived. 8. Meet the experts : discover the points of view of eight of the most eminent specialists of Lascaux.

Thanks to the combi-ticket, extend your visit to include some of the workshops (painting, carving, fire and more) led by professional archaeologists and a descent – only too real, this time! – into the Ramioul Cave, just as in the days of the extraordinary artists of Lascaux. 

A BREATHTAKING PLUNGE INTO THE HEART OF LASCAUX

A VISITOR EXPERIENCE WITH EVERY COMFORT

- The VR headset is easy to position on your head    - No need to remove glasses or contact lenses   -The experience can be enjoyed standing or sitting   - The cave moves, not you: no sense of dizziness   - Your hands appear in the virtual reality world: you can interact with the cave walls  - Your guide takes the form of a ball of light and explains in detail everything you need to know about the cave   - Headsets are thoroughly disinfected after each use 

Groups Min. 15 particpants

+ 80€ by group (25 max for the archaeologist-guide)

Sylvie Chevalier - Vice-President for tourism and promotion of the Périgord and the Dordogne

A very beautiful journey. Dense, rich, educational. Quite wonderful!

Germinal Peiro - President of the Dordogne Departmental Council

I was bluffed! I had the impression to be directly at the bottom of the cave.

Fernand Collin - Director of the Prehistomuseum

I really believed I was inside. It reminded me of the emotion I felt when I visited the real cave!

THE PRÉHISTOMUSEUM LIES DEEP IN A PROTECTED FOREST SURROUNDING THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF RAMIOUL.

And why not extend your visit with some of the practical workshops or interactive demonstrations on offer:  fire, discovering natural pigments, painting, and more.   For the bolder spirits, the adventure continues into the depths of the Ramioul Cave.  More information on   www.prehisto.museum

Opening hours

10am to 5pm (last admission 4pm)   during term time  extended to 6pm during school holidays   and from 5 april 2022 .

THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED ON 24, 25, 31 DECEMBER 2021 AND 1 JANUARY 2022.  THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED TO INDIVIDUAL VISITORS (NOT INCLUDING GROUPS) ON MONDAYS DURING TERM TIME AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.    NO DOGS OTHER THAN ASSISTANCE DOGS ARE ALLOWED ON THE MUSEUM SITE.  

How to reach us

128, RUE DE LA GROTTE /// 4400 FLÉMALLE - LIÈGE

By train ///

Take a train to Flémalle station (timetable) then take the TEC bus n°45 (timetable) or + 20 min by bike or Take the train to Engis station, then 10 min by bike

TEC Liège- Verviers - Ligne 9 departure Liège Opéra - Stop «RAMIOUL Grottes» - Consulter les horaires

Autoroute E42, sortie n°4 « Flémalle » Coordonnées GPS: Latitude : 50.579246 | Longitude : 5.426674

The Lascaux Experiences exhibition has been designed to guarantee the wonder and safety of all: - a maximum of 70 people/hour in a space of 800 m², i.e. more than 11 m²/pers. - systematic and complete disinfection of the virtual reality helmets - a private space of 9 m² to live the virtual reality experience Workshops led by archaeologists take place outdoors (covered area heated with wood) and in chalets reserved for each family. All of these facilities are in addition to the safety measures that have proven their worth at the Prehistomuseum since the beginning of the health crisis. 

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• Lascaux Cave visit 1/1: the virtual tour
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Description

Community facilities.

Explore the treasures of the Lascaux Caves in virtual reality!

As close as possible to the paintings in the Lascaux cave

Equipped with backpacks and virtual reality headsets , in small groups of up to six people, wander at your own pace through the 235 metres of tunnels that make up this masterpiece of prehistory . Accompanied by a guide, you will be co-located, and while moving freely throughout the caves, you can interact with other visitors via your avatar.

Presented as part of Exaltemps, a research and open innovation space located in the collections of the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine , and designed by Dassault Systèmes , this extraordinary visit replicates the conditions of the original cave with unprecedented 1:1 scale realism, as witnessed by the conservators and scientists authorised to enter the ancient tunnels. Here you’ll be up close and personal with the masterpiece of the Upper Paleolithic , painted 20,000 years ago, treasures of great beauty but also extremely fragile. In order to preserve it, the Lascaux Cave was permanently closed to the public in 1963, and the time spent inside is still strictly limited for the conservation teams working there.

An exclusive immersion in some of the world’s most famous cave art masterpieces and a totally unique virtual reality experience !

Access and contact

• https://www.citedelarchitecture.fr/

Days and opening hours

From 22/09/2022 to 31/12/2023 between 11 am and 7 pm. Closed on Tuesday. Resumption of sessions with compulsory booking on 22 September. Content and technology not suitable for children under 12. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

• Adult: 32 €.

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Take a Virtual Tour of the Lascaux Cave Paintings

in Art , History , Travel | December 5th, 2023 1 Comment

Image via Wiki­me­dia Com­mons

The Las­caux Caves enjoyed a qui­et exis­tence for some 17,000 years.

Then came the sum­mer of 1940, when four teens inves­ti­gat­ed what seemed to be a fox’s den on a hill near Mon­ti­gnac, hop­ing it might lead to an under­ground pas­sage­way of local leg­end.

Once inside, they dis­cov­ered the paint­ings that have intrigued us ever since, expand­ing our under­stand­ing of pre­his­toric art and human ori­gins, and caus­ing us to spec­u­late on things we’ll nev­er have an answer to.

The boys’ teacher reached out to sev­er­al pre­his­to­ri­ans, who authen­ti­cat­ed the fig­ures, arranged for them to be pho­tographed and sketched , and col­lect­ed a num­ber of bone and flint arti­facts from the caves’ floors.

By 1948, exca­va­tions and arti­fi­cial lights ren­dered the caves acces­si­ble to vis­i­tors, who arrived in droves — as many as 1,800 in a sin­gle day.

Less than 20 years lat­er, The Collector’s Rosie Lesso writes , the caves were in cri­sis, and per­ma­nent­ly closed to tourism:

…the heat, humid­i­ty and car­bon diox­ide of all those peo­ple crammed into the dark and air­less cave was caus­ing an imbal­ance in the cave’s nat­ur­al ecosys­tem, lead­ing to the over­growth of molds and fun­gus­es that threat­ened to oblit­er­ate the  pre­his­toric paint­ings .

The lights that had helped vis­i­tors get an eye­ful of the paint­ings caused fad­ing and dis­col­oration that threat­ened their very exis­tence.

Declar­ing this major attrac­tion off lim­its was the right move, and those who make the jour­ney to the area won’t leave entire­ly dis­ap­point­ed. Las­caux IV , a painstak­ing repli­ca that opened to the pub­lic in 2016, offers even more verisimil­i­tude than the pre­vi­ous mod­el, 1983’s Las­caux II .

A hand­ful of researchers and main­te­nance work­ers are still per­mit­ted inside the actu­al caves, now a UNESCO World Her­itage site , but human pres­ence is lim­it­ed to an annu­al total of 800 hours, and every­one must be prop­er­ly out­fit­ted with ster­ile white over­alls, plas­tic head cov­er­ings, latex gloves, dou­ble shoe cov­ers, and LED fore­head lamps with which to view the paint­ings.

The rest of us rab­ble can get a healthy vir­tu­al taste of these vis­i­tors’ expe­ri­ence thanks to the dig­i­tal Las­caux col­lec­tion that the Nation­al Arche­ol­o­gy Muse­um cre­at­ed for the Min­istry of Cul­ture.

An inter­ac­tive tour offers close-up views of the famous paint­ings, with titles to ori­ent the view­er as to the par­tic­u­lars of what and where  — for exam­ple “red cow fol­lowed by her calf” in the Hall of the Bulls .

Click the but­ton in the low­er left for a more in-depth expert descrip­tion of the ele­ment being depict­ed:

The flat red col­or used for the sil­hou­ette is of a uni­for­mi­ty that is sel­dom attained, which implies a repeat­ed ges­ture start­ing from the same point, with com­ple­men­tary angles of pro­jec­tion of pig­ments. The out­lines have been cre­at­ed with a sten­cil, and only the hindquar­ters, horns and the line of the back have been laid down with a brush…The fact that the artist used the same pig­ment for both fig­ures with­out any pic­to­r­i­al tran­si­tion between them indi­cates that the fusion of the two sil­hou­ettes was inten­tion­al, indica­tive of the con­nec­tion between the calf and its moth­er. This duo was born of the same ges­ture, and the image of the off­spring is mere­ly the graph­ic exten­sion of that of its moth­er.

The inter­ac­tive vir­tu­al tour is fur­ther com­pli­ment­ed by a trove of his­toric pho­tographs and inter­views , geo­log­i­cal con­text , con­ser­va­tion updates and anthro­po­log­i­cal inter­pre­ta­tions sug­gest­ing the paint­ings had a func­tion well beyond visu­al art.

Begin your vir­tu­al inter­ac­tive vis­it to the Las­caux Cave here .

Relat­ed Con­tent 

Archae­ol­o­gists May Have Dis­cov­ered a Secret Lan­guage in Las­caux & Chau­vet Cave Paint­ings, Per­haps Reveal­ing a 20,000-Year-Old “Pro­to-Writ­ing” Sys­tem

Was a 32,000-Year-Old Cave Paint­ing the Ear­li­est Form of Cin­e­ma?

Alger­ian Cave Paint­ings Sug­gest Humans Did Mag­ic Mush­rooms 9,000 Years Ago

40,000-Year-Old Sym­bols Found in Caves World­wide May Be the Ear­li­est Writ­ten Lan­guage

–  Ayun Hal­l­i­day  is the Chief Pri­ma­tol­o­gist of  the East Vil­lage Inky  zine and author, most recent­ly, of  Cre­ative, Not Famous: The Small Pota­to Man­i­festo  and  Cre­ative, Not Famous Activ­i­ty Book . Fol­low her  @AyunHalliday .

by Ayun Halliday | Permalink | Comments (1) |

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A flexible exhibition

Entering the Lascaux cave alone, taking a tour at our own pace, guided by a voice, this is the principle of Lascaux 3D. Using an autonomous virtual reality headset, visitors (re)discover the parietal art of Lascaux through an immersive experience.

As for the Lascaux 3 international exhibition, Lascaux 3D will go around the world. The advantage of this new way of discovering Lascaux is the modular aspect. Virtual reality headsets and digital files are easier to move than monumental walls. However, depending on the space made available, this exhibition is adapted: in addition to the virtual experience, modules are added, offering visitors all the scientific content necessary to decipher the work of our ancestors.

Lascaux 3D began its world tour in Liège (Belgium), at the prehistomuseum, and should soon reach Italy.

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The Cave Art of Lascaux: a Virtual Reality Experience

This exhibition has now finished.

Step back in time 21,000 years and visit the incredible Stone Age cave art of Lascaux in immersive 3D.

Experience this interactive exhibition wearing a Virtual Reality headset. Find out more about what a Virtual Reality experience involves .

This world heritage site in the Dordogne, France, was discovered in 1940 by two teenagers. It features etched and painted images large and small, of many animals. These include bison, horses, ibex, large cats and even a rhinoceros. There are also mysterious symbols and abstract elements.

International teams of experts have spent decades researching and analysing the images, working out how they were made and what they might mean.

The site itself has been closed to the public since 1963, but there is a full size replica of the cave complex in France. Now, using the latest technology, you can ‘visit’ the caves on your own doorstep.

Explore the drawings in detail and learn how they were found, preserved and recreated. Discover ‘invisible’ engravings and hear from experts about the original purpose of the site.

The exhibition also features displays on Cro-Magnon (early European modern human) life and culture. There are replicas of objects found on the cave floor, and stunning lifesize sculptures of a Cro-Magnon family.

Accessibility

• The VR experience currently involves standing for 15 minutes, moving about the space, turning around and interacting with virtual elements. You need to reach out your hands and follow spoken instructions from a voiceover. If you do not think this will be possible for you then please contact us before booking and we will see what adjustments we can provide.
• The experience is accessible for wheelchair users and other disabled visitors, but please contact us before booking if you have any questions about accessibility.
• VR is not recommended for those with epilepsy.
• The experience may be confusing for people living with dementia.
• Available in English, German and Italian.

Please note:

• Children under 12 must be accompanied at all times by an adult who will also need a ticket.
• We recommend that the Virtual Reality experience is more suitable for children aged 10+.
• Children aged 7+ can do the Virtual Reality experience, but may need additional support from an adult. If you are supporting a child through this experience and wish to use the VR headset then we recommend booking yourself into the slot immediately before or after the child to enable this.
• Younger children can go into the exhibition, but for safety cannot use the VR headsets because of their size and spatial processing ability. Please be aware that if you are visiting with children under the age of 7 and you are using the VR experience then an additional adult will need to be present to accompany any under 7s. If both adults wish to use the VR headsets then we recommend taking this in turns and booking one adult into the slot immediately before or after the other.
• People with an allergy or skin sensitivity to silicone or to medical grade alcohol should not use the VR

This exhibition was created by The Departmental Council of Dordogne, with support provided by the Regional Council of New Aquitaine, the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, and the European Union. The worldwide tour is organised by the SPL Lascaux, international exhibition.

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Home Best things to do Learn More The caves of Dordogne Lascaux Use the online ticket office to visit the Lascaux cave

Use the online ticket office to visit the Lascaux cave

You plan to visit Lascaux IV during your holidays in Dordogne? It is indeed an essential passage for a discovery of the riches of the prehistoric era! Remember to reserve your places and visits online to be sure to enjoy the cave whenever you want, with preferential rates. 

Why use the Lascaux Cave online ticketing?

The Lascaux cave, in Montignac-Lascaux in Dordogne, is a popular tourist site: You might as well plan your visit with peace of mind! By booking on the website, you not only benefit from an advantageous rate but you can also save time. Enough to plan other activities to discover the Périgord Noir.

A more advantageous price than on site

By reserving your place before going to Lascaux, you will see that the rates are lower than on site . And this applies both to individual places and to group rates (schools, for example). Do you come together with your family ? For children under 5 years old, entry is free but you must also reserve.

Please note:

Discounted tickets for students, job seekers and people with disabilities are only available for purchase on site.

Choose a niche to save time

To organize your visit and be sure to access the Lascaux cave at the desired time of day, better to book . Also remember to find out about the opening hours , which may vary depending on the seasons and times of the year. The opening hours are, for example, a little wider in summer, with opening hours until 22 p.m. in July-August.

The last departure for the visit is 2 hours before the cave art center closes.

Take the time to choose your visit before coming to Lascaux

A visit to the cave with a guide, a combined ticket with the Parc du Thot or a discovery of several prehistoric sites in the Périgord Noir? By using the ticket office, you can select one or more activities before coming to Dordogne, and find out about the content of each activity.

Visits to the Lascaux cave

Do you want to see the Lascaux cave? Several tour options are available to explore the Lascaux IV facsimile:

• Visit with a guide  ;
• The prestige visit by torch  ;
• The narrated visit for kids  ;
• The free visit audio guide .

Depending on your choice, you will also have access to spaces other than the cave: theater, cinema, immersion room, etc.

Ticket combined with Parc du Thot or Laugerie-Basse

If you have planned several activities, opt for twin tickets and their preferential prices. They give you access to visit the Lascaux cave art center, and to another site in the Vézère valley, of your choice:

• Le Thot park , south of Montignac-Lascaux, to understand the relationship between man and animal in Prehistory;
• Or Laugerie-Basse and its prehistoric rock shelters.

Prehistory or geology pass

You can also book 3 to 4 activities from Black Périgord around Lascaux, with the same ticket.

• The prehistory pass gives access to the Lascaux IV cave, the Thot park and Laugerie-Basse.
• The geology pass offers a complete panorama of the riches of the Vézère valley, with 4 sites: Lascaux IV, the Thot park, Laugerie-Basse and the Grand Roc (mineral cave listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site). 

What to do in Dordogne?

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The Occitanie region regroups 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites to visit, including the city of Carcassonne, the pont du Gard, the Canal du Midi or the episcopal city of Albi !

Périgord or Dordogne benefits from a particularly temperate climate which makes it a pleasant region to live in all seasons and a privileged destination for your next vacation. Visit Dordogne

Popular all year round for its mild climate, the beauty of its landscapes and its many activities, the Gironde is a destination of choice. Visit Gironde

Go on an excursion and admire the hillsides of the vineyards, the lavender fields and be lulled by the song of the cicadas. Visit Provence

We can create a totally tailor-made trip according to your very own desires. There are a lot of possibilities that you might be interested in or that we can suggest to you.

Visit the Lascaux cave

Discover the masterpiece of prehistory

The cave of Lascaux is located in the Périgord in the Dordogne department in the southwest of France. A guided tour of Lascaux is an essential part of your stay in the Dordogne Valley . It is the masterpiece of prehistory. This priceless treasure, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, will transport you a few millennia back in time to discover the beginnings of life on Earth.

This tour is available all year round. For groups bigger than 8 people, please contact us .

What will I do during this tour ?

A tour of the Lascaux cave replica

The Lascaux cave located in the commune of Montignac-Lascaux in the Dordogne department in the Vézère valley is one of the most important decorated caves of the Upper Paleolithic by the number and the aesthetic quality of its works. It is sometimes called “the Sistine Chapel of cave art”. It was discovered in 1940 by 4 local teenagers who discovered what they thought was just a hole in the hill of Lascaux, they then decided to enlarge it and came face to face with these paintings made by our Cro-Magnon ancestors.

Today the original cave is closed to the public in order to preserve this site which is listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNSECO. However, in order to allow everyone to admire the masterpieces of prehistory, a reconstruction of the Lascaux site has been made. Get ready to go back in time by diving into the heart of the almost complete replica of the cave thanks to Lascaux IV and its 3D digital tour .

Good to know

This guided tour includes :

• Transport from and to your hôtel
• English speaking private guide / driver
• Comfortable car or van

This guided tour does not includes :

• Entrance fees to sites/museums
• Lunch, drinks
• Personal insurance and expenses

Coronavirus Informations

All vehicles are cleaned after each service, guides wear masks and all activities, museums & attraction visited apply strict sanitary rules. Bring your masks as they are compulsory in the vans.

Need more infos ?

Our tour guide know perfectly the destinations they sell and will tailor-make a tour to your unique needs.

E-mail [email protected]

Phone +33 (0)6 51 84 02 79

Tours in Dordogne

Visit Rocamadour, its buildings, overlooked by a 14th-century castle, rise in stages above the gorge of the Alzou River.

Sarlat la Canéda

A day of discovery in the heart of the city of Sarlat to combine historical heritage and local gastronomy.

La Roque Gageac

La Roque-Gageac offers unique landscapes and architectural scenery that you can discover on board a gabare along the Dordogne.

Beynac-et-Cazenac

Go back in time with a visit to this ancient medieval town, classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France.

Monbazillac

Discover the most famous sweet white wine in the world with a visit to the Château de Monbazillac and a tasting of their wines.

Guide To Lascaux IV: What To See + Tips

Lascaux is the world’s most important painted cave. Discovered in 1940, it’s dubbed the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistory.”

The cave paintings date back to around 18,000 B.C., offering a fascinating glimpse into Paleolithic life from 21,000 years ago. They effectively serve as an ancient wildlife encyclopedia.

To understand its age, consider that the Great Pyramid at Giza is 4,600 years old and the Parthenon sculptures are 2,650 years old.

To protect these precious paintings, the original cave has been closed to the public for decades. Instead, you can visit the Lascaux IV Museum in France’s Dordogne region.

The museum meticulously recreates the cave and its incredible paintings, letting you experience these ancient masterpieces up close.

Though Paleolithic people were hunters and foragers, you’ll see that they could apparently paint like Leonardo da Vinci.

Initially, people were skeptical about the “fake cave” and thought it might be gimmicky.

But in my view, for a replica museum, Lascaux IV really hits it out of the park in terms of museum presentation and experience. It’s more expert forgery, than mere copy.

In this guide to Lascaux IV, I’ll cover everything to see and provide essential tips for visiting.

Quick Tips:

• You can only visit Lascaux IV on a guided tour.
• There are only 3 English tours each day.
• You’ll want to pre-book a ticket weeks or months in advance, especially in high season.
• You’ll have to check all backpacks.
• You can explore 6 rooms in the cave, the museum, and a theater.
• No photos are allowed in the replica cave, but they are permitted in the museum.
• Lascaux became a UNESCO site in 1979.

Mini History & Overview of Lascaux

Discovery of the paintings.

Lascaux I was discovered by chance in 1940 by a teenage boy walking his dog. He found a suspicious hole in the ground and brought his friends to explore it, hoping to find buried treasure.

Instead of gold, they found something just as valuable: prehistoric paintings. They recognized their significance straight away because similar painted caves had been discovered in the area.

The entrance to the cave had collapsed, leaving just a hole. This event, however, helped preserve the cave paintings.

The cave was never a home. Lighting a fire inside would have suffocated the Cro-Magnon people.

They lived during the Ice Age, facing harsh conditions and large predators. They made fires just outside cave entrances or built shelters from stone or animal hides.

Their paintings are a mix of realism and imagination, with some images overlapping. These vibrant artworks are full of color and movement. Picasso, after visiting Lascaux, said, “We have invented nothing.”

To create these paintings, artists used scaffolding to reach the walls. They worked with charcoal and ochre in shades of brown, red, yellow, and white, applying the colors by spraying, brushing, or drawing with tools made from bones or reeds.

Scientists aren’t sure how many artists worked on the cave. But they’ve identified 10 different sets of handprints.

Caves Open to the Public

The caves opened to the public in 1948, attracting millions of visitors.

The walls are covered with over 900 images of animals like aurochs, horses, and deer. There’s even images of a rhino, unicorn, and a human figure.

However, the influx of visitors introduced carbon dioxide, heat, humidity, and contaminants. That lead to the growth of mold and bacteria, which threatened the cave’s delicate microclimate. This began to damage the paintings.

In 1963, officials closed Lascaux to the public to prevent further deterioration.

Since then, only a few scientific experts are allowed limited access to monitor and stabilize the cave’s environment. Despite their efforts, bacteria remain a threat to the paintings.

To let the public see the artworks, Lascaux II was created in 1983, replicating the first two rooms of the cave.

Lascaux III was also created. It’s a traveling international exhibit with pieces of the replica cave and artifacts.

Creation of Lascaux IV

In 2016, Lascaux IV opened to the public as both a replica cave and a museum, officially called the International Centre for Cave Art.

Lascaux IV faithfully reproduces 90% of the original cave, making it hard for visitors to spot any differences.

Scientists used 3D laser scanning to create an accurate shell for the entire cave. The replicas were made in pieces and then assembled in this shell. Thirty-six artists painstakingly recreated the paintings using the same pigments as the Cro-Magnon people.

The museum is housed in a bold concrete and glass structure, located near the original cave at the edge of a forest.

To enhance the experience, the replica cave replicates the temperature, air pressure, and humidity of the original cave. Visitors can even hear their voices echo, just like in the real cave.

What Do the Paintings Mean?

Why were the paintings created? Their exact meaning remains a mystery.

Many researchers think they had ritualistic or religious purposes, possibly related to fertility or shamanistic practices.

Others believe the paintings were part of “hunting magic,” intended to ensure a successful hunt.

By creating images of their prey, they hoped to gain power over it. In those days, capturing prey was crucial for survival.

Guide To Lascaux: Things To See

Replica cave.

You begin your visit with a short film in the digital center. You’ll be transported back to the Ice Age with a tundra landscape and wild animals.

You’ll see the most dangerous predator, the cave lion, Panthera spelaea . And Cro-magnon men preparing pigments and tallow lamps to begin painting the cave walls.

Then, you reenter the building through a sliding door and are suddenly inside the cave.

There are two rules: (1) no photos and (2) don’t speak, just whisper.

Hall of the Bulls

The first room you enter is the Hall of Bulls, the cave’s most famous room.

It’s a large gallery measuring approximately 65+ feet in length and 16+ feet in width, with a ceiling height of over 16 feet.

The hall contains 130 vibrant, large scale images of aurochs, horses, and bulls. You’ll also see the only bear in the cave and a unicorn.

One of the images, of a bull, is the largest known prehistoric representation of an animal. It’s massive.

The aurochs, a large wild cattle, are the largest, an artistic choice. The horses all have big round bellies and short legs. Another example of artistic license or were they pregnant?

Axial Gallery

The next room is a 30 foot long passageway with bright orange and red animals.

There’s a line of small horses merrily cantering, more horses and bulls, and even two ibexes. Above you is a colorful ceiling of red bulls.

This room is also home to the Great Black Bull.

At the end of the corridor, in a section called the Meander, you’ll see a painting of an upside down horse and an imaginary image of a unicorn with two horns.

The animals are all shown in movement.

The artists used the contours of the cave to give depth and perspective to the animals and to help portray them in motion. It’s quite amazing and sophisticated.

There are also dots and crosses near the animals. What do they mean? Are they a kind of code?

Scientists aren’t sure. But they have some connection to the animals.

My guide posited that it was perhaps a way of communicating what was happening to the animals.

Next, you enter a passageway that starts the second half of the cave. It connects the Hall of the Bulls to the Apse and the Nave.

This area isn’t as well preserved as the preceding rooms. The ceiling is limestone, which is not as good as calcite for preserving paintings.

So the paintings aren’t as colorful. But you can still make out the engravings the artists carved.

They aren’t easy to spot. But your guide will show them to you with a laser pointer.

The Apse is known for the density of its artworks, containing over 50% of the cave’s art.

It features 1,200 engravings on a dome-shaped oval ceiling. Some are overlapping.

The images paintings depict the Major Stag – the largest petroglyph at Lascaux – several large black aurochs, the Stag with Thirteen Arrows, the Panel of the Musk Ox, the Frieze of the Painted and Engraved Stags, and the Great Sorcerer.

Archaeologists found several ceremonial artifacts there.

Hence, some researchers believe the Apse had a ritualistic or ceremonial function. It may have been a central sacred space where important rites were conducted.

Shaft of the Dead Man

In the next space, you’ll find “the shaft,” a deep hole with paintings at the bottom.

The shaft contains the cave’s most mysterious painting. It’s possibly a hunting scene, showing a bison, a bird, a woolly mammoth, and a human.

This is the only image of a human in the cave. The human figure appears to be falling or lying down with outstretched arms and a bird-like head.

Another bird sits on a stick, and the bison is shown in a dynamic pose, either charging or wounded, with its entrails spilling out.

Why was this painted in a hole accessible only by rope? Were the prehistoric people trying to hide it?

Was access to the shaft restricted to certain people? Did the hole have symbolic meaning?

The true reason remains unknown.

The nave contains even more animal paintings. This time, you see them painted and engraved next to colored squares and rectangles.

The geometric shapes may be a code, a method of communication, or part of a shamanistic ritual. It’s unclear what they mean.

On the right side is one of the cave’s most beautiful paintings, the Frieze of the Small Stags.

It depicts five deer crossing a river. They are shown with slender bodies, elongated legs, and detailed antlers.

The contours of the cave look like a wave in motion, creating an imaginary landscape. The deer are beautiful. In one of them, a bulge in the cave’s rock face creates a cheek bone.

After exiting the cave, you enter a museum-style exhibition hall. This is where you can take photos to your heart’s content.

The museum is very high tech. You’ll pick up a tablet that will give you more information on the paintings.

It’s not terribly easy to use FYI.

When you approach a new exhibit, you will hear a buzzing noise. That means you should touch the earphone icon on the upper right to re-start the explanation.

You’ll see replicas of important paintings from the cave, suspended from the ceiling.

Exhibits show how the paintings were engraved and then painted. At some interactive stations, you can try your hand at making your own cave paintings.

There are also several artifacts on display. You can see examples of the pigments and stone tools used to create the paintings.

There’s also an onsite theater. It shows a 20 minute video about the history of Lascaux and other painted caves around the world.

Practical Guide & Tips For Visiting Lascaux IV

Address : Avenue de Lascaux | 24290 MONTIGNAC

Hours : 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

You pay € 22 for the English tour, which you can purchase on the official website .

There’s a free parking lot to drop your car. You can also visit on a guided tour from Bordeaux or a guided tour from Sarlat .

How Long To Spend?

The tour of the replica last about one hour. However, you’ll also want to budget time for the museum exhibits and the theater. So, plan for 2 to 2.5 hours.

It’s fairly dark and cold inside the replica cave, about 55 degrees. So bring a jacket. And give your eyes time to adjust.

The museum has a cafe and shop with ample Lascaux merch. There’s a plethora of toys, puzzles, books, and things for children.

You’ll have to check any largish bags. You stash them in lockers to the left of the gift shop past the bathrooms. You need one euro to open the lockers. But you get it back upon leaving.

What To See Near Lascaux

If you want to see other things while you’re in the area, consider visiting Chateau de Hautefort or the beautiful town of Saint-Amand-de-Coly.

You could also start your day by visiting the Prehistory Museum in Les Eyzies before heading to Lascaux.

It’s a prehistory primer with with over 6 million ancient artifacts. These include tools, weapons, ornaments, and skeletal remains from the Paleolithic era.

Les Eyzies is also home to the amazing Font-de-Gaume, a smaller prehistoric cave with ancient polychrome paintings. It’s still open to the public, but tickets are hard to come by.

They sell out well in advance, as there is a strict limit on the number of visitors and there are only two English tours daily.

Lascaux II is also still open to the public. But it only has tours in French.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Lascaux IV. You may enjoy these other southern France travel guides:

• 10 day itinerary for southern France
• Charming hidden gems in Provence
• Hilltop villages of the Luberon Valley
• Historic landmarks in southern France
• Beautiful villages in Occitanie
• Guide to Arles
• Guide to Toulouse
• Guide to Carcassonne
• Guide to Albi

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Last Updated on May 23, 2024 by Leslie Livingston