It is known as the Sistine Chapel of prehistory. The Lascaux cave, in the Dordogne in south-west France, holds some of the most famous prehistoric paintings in the world. It has been closed to the public since 1963, but you can see its masterpieces through remarkably accurate replicas. Here is its story and how to visit it today.
Key points
- The cave was discovered on 12 September 1940 by four teenagers in Montignac, Dordogne.
- Its paintings are around 20,000 years old: horses, aurochs, deer and bison.
- Closed to the public in 1963 to protect it, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.
- Today you visit its replicas: Lascaux II (1983) and Lascaux IV (2016).
A chance discovery
On 12 September 1940, 18-year-old Marcel Ravidat and three friends, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agnel and Simon Coencas, explored a hole in the hillside near Montignac. They found chambers covered in paintings. The prehistorian Abbé Breuil soon came to study them.
Paintings around 20,000 years old
The cave holds nearly 2,000 painted and engraved figures. The most famous chamber, the Hall of the Bulls, shows huge aurochs, horses and deer. Prehistoric artists used natural pigments such as ochre and charcoal and used the shape of the rock to give movement to the animals.
Why is the cave closed?
After opening to the public in 1948, the cave received more than 1,000 visitors a day. The carbon dioxide from their breath, humidity and light damaged the paintings and algae began to grow, the so-called green sickness. The cave closed in 1963 and only a few scientists may now enter.
How to visit Lascaux today
- Lascaux II (1983): a reproduction of the two main chambers, 200 metres from the original cave.
- Lascaux III: a travelling exhibition, opened in Bordeaux in 2012, which toured the world.
- Lascaux IV, the International Centre for Cave Art, opened in December 2016 in Montignac-Lascaux: an almost complete reproduction of the cave in a building designed by Snøhetta.
Tip: the Vézère valley has many other remarkable prehistoric sites. Plan at least a full day in the area.
Useful French vocabulary
- la préhistoire (prehistory), un homme préhistorique
- une grotte, une caverne (a cave)
- l’art pariétal: paintings and engravings on cave walls
- une peinture rupestre (a rock painting)
- un fac-similé (an exact copy)
Going further
Discover another great art venue in our article on the Louvre Museum and the symbols of France. Take our free French level test, then talk about your travels in our French conversation lessons.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the real Lascaux cave?
No. The original cave has been closed to the public since 1963 to protect the paintings. Visitors see its replicas, Lascaux II and Lascaux IV.
How old are the Lascaux paintings?
They are around 20,000 years old, from the Upper Palaeolithic.
Who discovered the Lascaux cave?
Four teenagers, Marcel Ravidat, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agnel and Simon Coencas, on 12 September 1940.
Where is Lascaux IV?
In Montignac-Lascaux, in the Dordogne, in the Vézère valley. It opened in December 2016.
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