We were very lucky to get tickets to visit Lascaux II. We had completely forgotten about needing to book ahead but thankfully it is not high season and we were able to get tickets for an English tour of the cave. The Lascaux Cave was discovered on September 12 by 18 year old Marcel Ravidat when his dog Robot investigated a hole left by an uprooted tree that had fallen over in a storm. Of course we are visiting a replica cave. It was the first replica cave in the world when it opened in near the site of the original cave…however there are still no photos allowed.
The original cave was closed in April, Lascaux II is an exact replica of the two main chambers of the cave. This short video has a segment with a walk through the cave by torch light. This is what we experienced at Lascaux II. We were standing in a dark cave, with only a flickering torch to illuminate these 20, year old cave paintings.
It was an amazing experience. I manage to do a couple quick drawings while in the cave, but the lighting is poor and I decide to enjoy the experience and forget about trying to draw. We visit Parc de Thot which is a small zoo with animals that are similar to those drawn in the caves…bisons, wolves, deer, and bulls. There was an interesting short film and some displays in their building. It was a nice place to have our lunch but that was about it. This display shows the different techniques that were used to make the cave paintings and engravings.
The artist would blow pigment from his, or perhaps her mouth onto the walls of the cave, sometimes even using a hollow bone for more accuracy. This display shows one of the cave paintings…. After we ate our lunch I did a bit of drawing and Bob did a bit of reading before we left for Lascaux IV. It is adjacent to the original cave and offers an even more authentic experience than Lascaux II, with changes in air pressure, along with a series of atmospheric cave scents and sounds.
Once again no photos allowed however there is an interpretive area that has more replica displays and we can take photos there. These displays are just as well done as the paintings in the cave.. It is nice to have a bit more time to really examine some of the the paintings up close and in better light. They are spectacular, and photos do not come anywhere near ot capturing this incredible art that was created 20, years ago by Cro-Magnons, who were the first early modern humans.
