![]() ![]() Lascaux, it seems, was prehistoric paradise to people with brains similar to our own. On the way, you’re encouraged to think why Cro-Magnon man chose to come here rather than to the cluster of prehistoric caves some 20 kilometres away at Les Eyzies-de-Tayac. The Discovery Path leads gradually downhill between the lee of the hill and the untreated concrete ‘strata’ of the Centre.Ĭoncrete ‘strata’ brings the cave atmosphere inside the discovery centre. You can, however, activate them on the plant-covered roof if you want to see the prehistoric sites of the Vézère mapped out before you. Then it’s off on a virtual journey in the footsteps of the teenagers. So in the spirit of authenticity, the magic pads don’t work inside the cave. “We want visitors to feel the atmosphere of the cave and form their own opinions about the meaning of paintings.” “We think of ourselves more as facilitators and companions than guides,” our tri-lingual guide, Dhyana, revealed as we took the lift to the roof to start our time-travel adventure. A multi-media tablet with headset provides additional background and insight with separate commentaries for adults and children, activated at key points throughout the Centre. Groups set out every six minutes, so prebooking is advisable.īut there’s lots more to enjoy at your own pace in the interpretation area, facilitated by the latest in electronic wizardry. The interior of the Lascaux cave has been painstakingly recreated, millimetre by prehistoric millimetre, with access by guided tour only, in order to ensure the most authentic experience possible. ![]() Many ancient artefacts have been recovered from the cave, but the International Cave Painting Centre is not a museum collection. “But when we invited them for a preview last week, they understood completely what we are trying to do and loved it.” “Local people have been understandably concerned about the volume of visitors,” admitted the director, Guillaume Colombo. As our small group approached the low-level building, men with machines were still tilling bare soil destined to become lawns and pools and, across the grassless park, the small town of Montignac waited in nervous anticipation for the world to arrive. The shape of the Centre reflects the relief of Lascaux hill behind, its soft broken roofline contoured like a horizontal fault. I’ve been lucky enough to see original cave paintings in the Dordogne, Lot and the Pyrénées, so I was curious to see how I’d feel about a replica when I arrived for a privileged preview, just one week before inauguration by the outgoing president, François Hollande. Created with state-of-the-art techniques and perfect to every last nook and cranny, it’s the focal point of the International Cave Painting Centre, which sets out to connect 21st-century visitors with their ancient ancestors. Now, however, visitors can once again experience the wonder of Lascaux, thanks to a full-scale replica of the cave, which opened in December 2016. The paintings began to deteriorate and, in 1963, the door in the hillside was closed to all but a few experts. Listed as a Historic Monument just two months later, Lascaux was opened to the public in 1948, but over time the increase in humidity brought in by visitors caused algae to form. Les Eyzies is served by TER regional trains, and the Gare (train station) near the Hôtel Les Glycines is only about 500 meters (547 yards) from the Office de Tourisme in the village center.In September 1940, four French teenagers made a unique discovery in the gently rolling countryside bordering the Vézère: a subterranean cave lavishly decorated with paintings 20,000 years old. It's a wonderful area, and staying in Les Eyzies or nearby Sarlat is delightful. To get the most out of your visit you will most likely have to stay in the area at least one night and plan your daily activities carefully. Numerous caves with mural paintings, bas-relief sculptures and artifacts, dramatic limestone rock formations and cliffs, and the Musée national de Préhistoire (National Prehistory Museum) draw visitors to this small town on the banks of the Vézère River.Īlthough there are many sites and exhibits of prehistory for both adults and children to visit, some of them-the most in demand, in fact- limit the number of daily visitors severely, making access difficult to nearly impossible in the busiest months ( July and August). Lascaux may be the most famous prehistoric cave dwelling in France, but the village of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, 29 km (18 miles) southwest of Lascaux in the valley of the River Vézère ( map), is actually the center of prehistoric Cro-Magnon culture and discoveries in France. ![]()
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