Lascaux Cave Deep Dive
Lascaux Cave in the Vezere valley of the Dordogne, France, contains some of the finest Upper Palaeolithic cave paintings ever found. The cave was sealed to the public in 1963; visitors today see the faithful Lascaux IV reproduction, opened 2016.
Discovery
Four teenagers — Marcel Ravidat, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agniel and Simon Coencas — found the cave on 12 September 1940 while exploring a tree-roots-uncovered hole near Montignac. Abbé Henri Breuil authenticated the paintings within weeks.
The paintings
About 600 painted images and 1,500 engravings, dated 15,000-17,000 years before present (Magdalenian and earlier Solutrean). Subjects include horses, aurochs, deer, ibex, a single bear, and the famous "hall of the bulls" — the most spectacular single chamber.
Conservation crisis
The cave was opened commercially in 1948. By 1955 carbon dioxide from 1,200 visitors per day was damaging the paintings. In 1963 André Malraux ordered the cave closed. Mould outbreaks (Fusarium, black moulds) have continued to threaten the paintings to this day despite the closure — the cave's microclimate proved more fragile than anyone anticipated.
The replicas
Lascaux II (1983) reproduced the Hall of the Bulls and Axial Gallery. Lascaux III (2012) was a travelling exhibition. Lascaux IV (2016) reproduces the entire painted cave at 1:1 scale with millimeter precision, using photographic and 3D scans.
Why it matters
Lascaux is the canonical reference cave for understanding Magdalenian art. It anchors interpretations of Palaeolithic symbolism, technique, and the function of decorated caves — debates that continue 60 years after its closure.
Visiting Lascaux IV
Located beside the original cave at Montignac. Multimedia interpretation centre, full-cave replica tour, and exhibits on prehistoric art globally. Booking recommended in summer.
Explore on the map
See Lascaux on the interactive map.