LASCAUX II
When Lascaux shut its doors to visitors in 1963, a huge project began to reconstruct an identical version to give visitors the chance to discover this glorious World Heritage Site.
The Most-Visited Cave Paintings in the World!
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Vézère valley in the Dordogne teems with prehistoric sites, boasting no fewer than 147 deposits and 25 caves decorated with cave paintings, including the famous Lascaux Cave at Montignac.
In 1983, Lascaux II opened for visitors as the first reproduction cave in the world, presenting the two most famous galleries: the Hall of the Bulls and the Axial Diverticulum, reproduced identically with impressive precision. Located a few hundred metres from the original cave, Lascaux II now welcomes you for a proper visit, closer to the original cave.
Delve into the Heart of the Cave!
- 1 The original Cave
- 2 Ticket Office / Shop
- 3 Entrance to Lascaux II
- 4 Discovery Trail
Discovery of 1940
In September 1940, a young man named Marcel Ravidat discovered a cavity in a Lascaux hillside and four days later, accompanied by his friends, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agniel and Simon Coencas, he slipped down into a cave where the four teenagers discovered numerous cave paintings.
Maurice Thaon, under the direction of Abbé Breuil – a teacher at the Collège de France and a specialist in cave art - made the first drawings and sketches of the cave walls. Lascaux Cave was opened to the public as early as 1948. From the very beginning it met with unprecedented success from tourists, although this was not without negative consequences as their carbon dioxide rapidly began to affect the fragile cave art. In order to preserve these works of art, André Malraux, then Minister of Culture, set up a scientific commission to study Lascaux which led to its closure on the 18th April 1963.
Lascaux II is Born
The visit starts within the protected Lascaux hillside “sanctuary”, in front of the original cave. The guide will take you to Lascaux II where, in a small group, you will discover the power and intimacy of the replica. Alone in the cave, you will have the time to fully appreciate the sheer force of Lascaux by placing this masterpiece within the context of prehistory, the evolution of mankind and the history of tool-making. Away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, in an intimate atmosphere, you really feel the privilege of visiting this extraordinary cave.
My TicketsWe took advantage of the winter break to make improvements, repairs and receive visitors in ever-better conditions! Of course, we made sure to preserve the hillside, the surrounding woods and the original cave.
My TicketsThe carpark has been redone, the signposting and the shop are currently being updated and steps have been built for ease of access from the carpark.
Updates have been made in the two museum areas which lead to the cave: the blacklight on the engraved panel, new lighting for a cross section of the cave and a new backlit map of the cave have been installed.
My TicketsObviously, visitors come for the unmissable core elements which make the new “Lascaux II: In-depth Visit”, so successful:
- A visit lasting 1h15 with a walk through the woods to see the entrance of the original cave.
- Imitation torchlight
- An in-depth 30-minute visit of the Hall of Bulls and the Axial Gallery allow for a very detailed description and time to talk about cave art in considerable depth.
Everyone has the time to fully appreciate the sheer force of Lascaux by placing this masterpiece within the context of prehistory, the evolution of mankind and the history of tool-making. Make sure you talk to the guides too; they are always keen to share their knowledge after the visit.
Participants are limited to a maximum of 30.
My Tickets
