France - Aquitaine

Lascaux Caves

A Karen Brown Recommendation

On the outskirts of Montignac are the wondrous Lascaux Caves with their magnificent 15,000-year-old paintings. In 1963 these caves were closed to the public because the paintings were being damaged by the rise and fall in temperature as hordes of visitors came and went. It took ten years to construct an exact replica—Lascaux II. Except for the even, non-slip floor you will not know that you are not in the real Lascaux. The bulls, bison, and stags appear to be moving around the cave—so skillfully did the artists utilize every feature of the rocks that bumps appear as humps, cheekbones, and haunches. In July and August the quota of 2,000 tickets a day go on sale at 9 am at the Syndicat d’Initiative (Tourist Office) in Montignac. Tickets are not available in advance. For the rest of the year tickets are sold at the site on a first come, first served basis, so you may arrive at 11 am and find that you are offered a 4 pm tour. Tours are given in English and French.

Located along this Karen Brown Itinerary:

I - Dordogne & Lot River Valleys

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