Discover the caves of Lascaux located near the campsite!
Like the Lascaux cave, the Vézère Valley benefits from an exceptional concentration of archaeological sites of worldwide interest containing engravings and cave paintings that bear witness to the prehistoric art of our ancestors.
THE ORIGIN OF THE CAVES OF LASCAUX
Since 1979, 15 prehistoric sites and decorated caves in the valley have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Among the most beautiful sites is the new International Center of Cave Art in Montignac, very close to our Lascaux campsite in the Dordogne.
A reconstruction of the Lascaux caves, one of the most beautiful caves in the Dordogne, is breathtaking. The room of the bulls of Lascaux II, among others, is a little the Sixtine Chapel of the Paleolithic.
The cave of Lascaux was discovered in 1940, by 4 teenagers from Périgord. They were inhabitants of Montignac, a village located in the Périgord Noir near the Vézère valley, the cradle of Cro-Magnon man.
After the war, this cave, where many prehistoric men lived, was open to the public for many years until its closure in 1963.
The interruption of the visits is due to the degradations of the frescos and the prehistoric paintings produced by the carbonic gas resulting from the breathing of the numerous visitors.
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PARIETAL ART LASCAUX 4
On December 15, 2016, the new Lascaux (or Lascaux 4), officially named “Montignac-Lascaux International Center of Cave Art,” opened its doors to the public.
Lascaux 4 is located at the foot of the hill of Montignac, 8 km from the campsite La Fage, in the heart of the Périgord Noir.
Would you like to discover the origin of the cave, why several caves have been reproduced, what the Lascaux IV project consists of?
The Lascaux cave is the highlight of the International Center of Cave Art in Montignac. Its integral reproduction is partly due to the use of advanced image and virtual technologies. The frescoes are highlighted by elaborate lighting effects that make the visit exciting.
The Montignac-Lascaux International Center of Cave Art is without a doubt a point of interest for tourists and cultural references. In terms of cave art, the painted and engraved representations of the Lascaux cave are the best support for scientific popularization and a great educational framework.
Outside, you can admire the Vézère valley and the view on the town of Montignac.
Inside the International Center of Cave Art, Lascaux 4, the atmosphere is that of a real cave. The sounds are muffled, it is dark and humid as in an underground.
“An authentic atmosphere” the idea is for visitors to appreciate the splendor of the works inside the cave. This area is mainly devoted to contemplation.
In high season, visitors are accompanied by a guide, they enter the cave in groups of about 30 people.
Inside the cave, however, they will live an experience as personal as possible.
The guide will only give information to enrich their experience and they will be able to contemplate the works of art without being interrupted too much.
In the low season, the Torch accompanies the visitor in the facsimile as a guide. She provides him with a minimum of information in his language. The essential points of Lascaux will be the subject of a programmed stop.
VISIT THE CAVES OF LASCAUX ALL YEAR LONG !
The Montignac-Lascaux International Center of Cave Art is open all year round.
It is possible to reserve your seats in advance, thanks to the online ticketing.
You can choose the date and time of your visit. No waiting time, which is a priority for couples with young children.
Special rates are available for families with children.
Prehistory passes for 3 or 4 sites at reduced rates can also be reserved. You will have the possibility to visit more than one prehistoric site and in particular objects dating from the Paleolithic period such as flints used for daily life.
