Sights in Montignac — 4 of Our Favourites

There are about 2,000 figure drawings, nearly half of which are of animals. The caves were only discovered in 1940 and after were open to the public for 15 years. It was discovered though that the carbon dioxide produced by the thousands of visitors was damaging these precious paintings and so they are no longer open to the public. Excellent faithful reproductions of the Hall of the Bulls and the Painted Gallery can be seen at Lascaux II in Montignac, just 200 metres from the actual cave.

In 1575, a Renaissance Hall was built within the stronghold. It was enclosed by curtain walls and surrounded by a deep ditch. Inside the fine décor and the exceptional period furnishings and original tapestries there today bear witness to the grand lifestyle of the Marquess of Jean II de Losse, who built it and resided there in the 16th century.

The gardens are beautiful and well manicured and gained listed 'Remarkable Garden' status in 2004.

Part of the tour will be a view into the Vezere valley from almost 20,000 years ago, and then a leap into 1940 when the caves were first discovered. The cave replica itself makes the entire cave accessible to the public with flawless reproduction techniques. Cool and dark, visitors can appreciate the work in an authentic atmosphere with few interruptions.

Further replicas are available for closer inspection once you leave the replica and in a large hall you can explore some of the most famous paintings in more detail. The Cave Art Theatre then takes you on a journey through the ages to discover more about the interpretation of the art and of new technologies. Finally a 3D cinema and gallery bring you to the end fo your visit and exploration of this fascinating site.

It has an animal park with many of the animals represented in cave drawings and replica models of extinct species. It also has an hands-on explanation of cave art and explains how the Lascaux caves were faithfully reproduced at Lascaux II.