Lascaux IV, world center of cave art
Just 40 minutes from Brive, Lascaux IV offers a mystical and fun dive into Prehistory that will please both children and adults.
Located in the heart of the Vézère Valley in Montignac, in Dordogne, the International Center for Cave Art Montignac-Lascaux reproduces the Lascaux cave in its entirety. It also uses new image and virtual technologies to highlight and popularize cave art in general. A unmissable visit nearby from the Brive basin!
5 good reasons to go and discover Lascaux IV
- Being astonished by the complete reproduction of the original cave.
- Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a real cave by appealing to our five senses.
- Take on the role of Cro-Magnon and test (virtually) his painting techniques in the space "L'Atelier" in Lascaux.
- Admire the view of the Vézère Valley from the Belvedere located on the roof of Lascaux IV.
- Also go and visit Lascaux II, the first stone in the building - so to speak - of this Montignac-Lascaux International Center for Cave Art.
The history of the Lascaux cave
How was the Lascaux cave discovered?
Did you know ? The real discoverer of the Lascaux cave is… a dog! On September 8, 1940, the young Marcel Ravidat took a walk with Robot, his faithful four-legged companion. The canine found a hole and crawled inside. Intrigued, his master threw a stone in it and realized that the crack is much deeper than it appears.
On September 12, he returned to the scene with three friends. Together, they decided to widen the breach, then slipped inside. There, by the light of a simple lamp, they made one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the XNUMXth century: cave paintings drawn by Cro-Magnon men!
The place was quickly taken over by the scientific community. It was not revealed to the public until 1948.
Lascaux Cave listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Vézère Valley represents more than 400.000 years of human occupation. It benefits from an exceptional concentration of archaeological and prehistoric sites of global interest with nearly 150 sites and around thirty decorated caves.
In 1979, 15 of these sites which functions were related to funeral rites, housing or even hunting were classified as UNESCO world heritage sites. The Lascaux cave is one of these wonders.
Why four Lascaux?
As if one Lascaux was not enough, today there are four. But why ? Quite simply because the access to the original cave (or Lascaux I) has been prohibited since 1963. The excessive use of the place has, actually caused over time a lot of irreversible damage to the walls.
But in order not to deprive the public of this priceless masterpiece, a facsimile project was launched in the early 1970s. The first model reconstructing the Salle des Taureaux was presented in 1980 at the Grand Palais in Paris.
Then Lascaux II opened its doors in 1983 in Montignac. It is built underground on the same hill as Lascaux I but only reproduces a small part of it.
In 2012, it was around Lascaux III to see the light of day. It is a facsimile arranged under the form of a traveling exhibition that can travel to the four corners of the world.
Finally, Lascaux IV was born in 2016.
What is Lascaux IV?
Lascaux IV or the International Center for Cave Art Montignac-Lascaux, its full name, is a tourist center dedicated to the history of the Lascaux cave as well as cave art around the world.
Three years of work were necessary at the Ateliers des Fac-similés du Périgord to recreate the cave on a full scale in its entirety and in an intact atmosphere. Odors, humidity, subdued lighting: everything is there to make you feel like you are in the original cave.
A digital space even provides access to certain artworks in augmented reality in order to discover them more thoroughly.
And important clarification: the visit takes place with a “tour companion”, ie a tablet in hand and headphones on the ears for an even greater immersion. The Lascaux cave has entered the digital age!
Our tip To Lascaux you will go
Around 17.000 years ago, in a place on Earth that was not yet called Périgord or Dordogne, Cro-Magnon man worked to paint animals on the walls of a cave known today as the Lascaux cave. Nice work, to say the least and it would be more than a shame if you, homo turisticus, left the region without going to contemplate what we nickname the "Sistine Chapel of prehistory".
International Center for Cave Art,
Lascaux road,
24290 Montignac
+05 53 50 99 10 XNUMX
Pratical information
How to get to Lascaux IV?
The Lascaux IV site is located in the town of Montignac, in Dordogne, approximately 40 km from Brive, 25 km from Sarlat and 55 km from Périgueux. It takes about 40 minutes to drive from Brive.
Information to know before visiting Lascaux IV
- Pets are not allowed (except guide dogs for the blind).
- Strollers are prohibited: provide a baby carrier for young children.
- Picnics are prohibited on site. Food and drinks are not allowed in the building.
- Bring warm clothing because the temperature does not exceed 13°C inside the facsimile.
- The tour route is suitable for people with reduced mobility.
- The visit must be accompanied by a cultural mediator. Duration: 1h30.
- Photographs are prohibited inside the facsimile.
Services offered on the Lascaux IV site
Free parking (car, camper van, bus) - charging stations for electric cars - paid catering on site - free wifi - souvenir shop. For opening hours, fees and reservations for visits, consult the Lascaux IV website right here.
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