Lascaux IV - International Centre for Cave Art

In the municipality of Montignac, at the foot of the Lascaux hill, which contains the original cave whose interior was closed to the public in 1983 for conservation reasons, the International Centre for Cave Art - Lascaux IV presents a complete replica of the decorated cave classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In this latest replica, open to the public since 2016, new techniques are used to showcase this important prehistoric site. Behind the glass doors of a huge, modern, semi-underground building spanning 8,000 m², none of whose walls are straight, originally-shaped rooms welcome visitors for an unusual experience.

The centre uses its preferred medium of digital technology to show off and enhance the cave art. From the heights of the belvedere, equipped with your digital tablet, you can leap back 20,000 years to admire the Vézère Valley and the wildlife of the time. Then in the shelter, take a trip to 1940 and follow the four teenagers who started this fabulous adventure, contemplating their amazing discovery as if you were there yourself.

In the Lascaux Studio (Atelier de Lascaux), discover eight big walls in a huge room, displaying the cave's main works of art. Several scenographic exhibits are on offer: swipe your tablet screen to discover the various works in virtual reality, share the tactile experience of the first humans by using their tools and techniques, become aware of the fragile balance of the cave through an immersive experience, and handle objects from the archaeological excavations carried out in Lascaux.

The Theatre of Cave Art will take you into a series of small rooms where a play in three chronological acts is staged. Topics covered include 19th-century doubts about the authenticity of the decorated caves, the working practices of two famous Prehistory specialists, and the techniques used by contemporary archaeologists.

With your 3D glasses on, in front of two giant screens, continue your journey in the underground realm by watching the film "Lascaux and the World", to admire Lascaux and other decorated caves around the world. Finally, in the Imaginary Gallery, you can explore the ties that have been formed between cave art and contemporary art by admiring images and artworks exhibited on a wall of 90 screens.

At Lascaux IV, you will find a unique experience that will shake up your temporal reference points, combining the mystery of an ancestral art form and the contribution of technology. An in-depth exploration for all ages that puts Lascaux back on the world cave art stage.