Lascaux IV
The Cradle of Human Creativity
Art
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© 2020
Just ten minutes from our campsite, on the edge of Montignac, lies a place where time stands still. The Lascaux Cave is world-famous for its Paleolithic paintings—works of art estimated to be up to 20,000 years old. It is a moving moment when you realize that this is the cradle of human creativity.
The Heritage of the Vézère
The Vézère Valley in the Dordogne, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is a true treasure trove of prehistory. Around 25 caves with prehistoric evidence can be found here, including the famous Lascaux cave in Montignac. The "Lascaux International Center"—better known as Lascaux IV—blends almost invisibly into the landscape with its 9,000 m². From above, the building is hardly discernible due to its green roof, stretched out like a facade open to the side.
Four Teenagers and a Global Success
In September 1940, young Marcel Ravidat accidentally discovered the cave on the hill of Lascaux. Together with his friends Jacques Marsal, Georges Agniel, and Simon Coencas, he descended a few days later and discovered the now world-famous paintings. Under the direction of Abbé Breuil, a luminary of cave art, the first scientific sketches of these impressive walls were created shortly thereafter.
From Closure to Resurrection
After the cave opened in 1948, the massive influx of visitors led to irreparable damage caused by carbon dioxide. In 1963, the site had to be closed to protect the artworks. It took decades for the prehistoric masterpieces to become accessible in this form again. With Lascaux IV, an almost complete reconstruction has been achieved today, allowing visitors to experience the "Salle des Taureaux" and the "Diverticule Axial" with impressive precision—a journey through time that brings the development of our ancestors and their tools directly before our eyes.
