Spain is not the only country in Europe with remarkable Paleolithic rock art - like its famous Cave of Altamira. Lascaux in France boasts a network of caves that have been UNESCO World Heritage Listed since 1979. The caves include over 600 wall paintings on the interior walls and the ceilings of the cave.
Most of the paintings are of large animals that inhabited the area in the Upper Paleolithic era. The paintings were not drawn all at once but are a result of many generations inhabiting the site. It is one of the best places that we can go back in time and see cave paintings of a world long gone.
The Paintings, Their Age, and Discovery
The caves were discovered in 1940 during WW2 while France was under German occupation. Over the next few years, tourists flocked to the caves to see the wonders of the art of the paleolithic. But in order to preserve the paintings, the caves had to be closed to the public as the warm humid breath of the tourists was destroying the paintings.
- Discovered: In 1940 During World War Two
- Most Recent: The Most Recent Cave Art Paintings Have been Discovered In Borneo (2018) and Croatia (2019).
- Age: Estimated To be Around 17,000 Years Old
The age of these paintings is still a matter of debate but they are generally estimated to be around 17,000 years old. It is included as part of the Heritage Listing Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley.
Paintings In The Cave
In all, the cave contains almost 6,000 figures of animals, human figures, and abstract signs. There are no images of the surrounding landscapes or of any plants. Over 900 of the images have been identified as animals - of which 605 have been precisely identified. 364 of them are horses or the horse family and 90 are paintings of stags. Cattle represent 4% of the images, while bison represent 5%.
- Total: Almost 6,000 Images Total
- Animals: Over 900 Images Have Been Identified As Animals
- Species: Species Depicted Include Horses, Bison, A Bear, Cattle, A Rhino, A Bird, A Cat, And Aurochs
Other images include seven imagines of the cat family, a bird, a rhino, a bear, and a human. Oddly enough there is no reindeer present - even though at the time they would have been the main source of food for the cavemen.
The most famous section in the cave is called the Hall of the Bulls. This collection includes the only bear in the cave, and depictions of stags, bulls, equines, and aurochs (an extinct type of ox). This is considered the most spectacular part of the site and the images often include impressive dimensions up to five meters long.
There are two rows of aurochs facing each other. There are another two aurochs accompanied by ten horses.
In one chamber called the Nave is a painting called the "Crossed Bison". In a show of artistic skill, the bison is depicted with its hind legs crossed to create the illusion that one leg is closer to the viewer than the other.
Preservation And Replicas
In an effort to preserve the paintings, they have been closed to the public since 1963 as their condition was deteriorating with the visitors. But now there are a number of replicas that one can visit.
- Visiting: The Actual Cave is Closed to the Public
- Replicas: The Lascaux II, III, And IV
This is an exact copy of the Great Hall of the Bulls and the Painted Gallery. It is now on display about 200 meters away from the original cave. It is a compromise to try to present the impression of the painting's scale while protecting the originals.
The replica was created with the same type of materials that were believed to have been used to create the original (iron oxide, charcoal, and ochre). But Lascaux II is not alone in replacing the priceless contents of the cave, there are also the replicas Lascaux III and Lascaux IV.
Visiting The International Centre Of Cave Art
With the Lascaux IV replicas, one can see a complete copy of the famous cave and not just a part of it. This museum and gallery called the International Centre of Cave Art offers complete new replicas and retraces the discovery of the cave. The replica is the result of three years of work in the Perigord Facsimile Studio.
Hours:
- Opens: 8 am or 9 am Depending on The Season
- Closes: 6 pm to 10 pm Depending on The Season
- Last Admission: 2 Hours Before Closing
Cost:
- Adult: 20 € ($22.50) (Aged 13 And Over)
- Child: 12.90 € ($15.00) (Aged 5 to 12 Years)
- Infant: Free (Under Five)
While one cannot visit the actual cave, the museum has it all and offers a full history of our understanding of the history of the cave and its ancient inhabitants.