Lascaux and the Dordogne Caves
The Sistine Chapel of prehistory - the astonishing Ice Age cave paintings of the Dordogne, a UNESCO landscape of painted caves seen through faithful replicas.
Updated 4 August 2026
AI illustration
UNESCO World Heritage
The Vezere valley in the Dordogne holds some of the greatest prehistoric art on earth, above all the Lascaux cave, painted seventeen thousand years ago with vivid galloping horses, bulls and deer, the Sistine Chapel of prehistory. A UNESCO landscape of painted and inhabited caves, the original Lascaux is closed to protect it, but a faithful replica lets visitors marvel at the art.
What's there
- Lascaux replica - the exact facsimile of the great painted cave.
- The Ice Age art - the vivid horses, bulls and deer of the paintings.
- The Vezere valley caves - the other painted and inhabited prehistoric sites.
- The National Prehistory Museum - the museum at Les Eyzies.
When to go
Spring to autumn for the valley and the mild weather; the caves and replicas are open through the warm season. Book guided tours ahead in the busy season.
What to expect
The original Lascaux is closed forever to protect the fragile paintings, so you see an exact replica, which is remarkable but not the real cave. The valley has many sites, so a car and a plan help. Some genuine painted caves nearby can still be visited in limited numbers.
Nearby
The Dordogne valley, its castles and the pretty village of Sarlat are nearby.
What to pack for Lascaux and the Dordogne Caves
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Head torch + spare batteries - Hands-free light is essential; caves are truly dark. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Grippy closed shoes - Cave floors are wet, muddy and slick with formations. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
