Lascaux Caves
Climb into the Ice Age at Lascaux IV, a full-size replica of Montignac's famous painted cave, then spend the rest of the day along the Vézère. Easy to reach by car from your campsite.
Why visit Lascaux Caves?
Ice Age Masterpieces – hundreds of painted animals, recreated to the millimetre
UNESCO Heritage – listed in 1979 with the prehistoric sites of the Vézère valley
Rooftop Views – the belvedere looks out across the Vézère valley
Family Friendly – children from 5 get a digital companion made for their age
Any Weather – the whole visit is indoors, so rain never spoils it
Practical info
- Time needed
- plan about 3 hours at Lascaux IV, and about 1 hour more if you add Lascaux II.
- Best time to visit
- spring and autumn are relaxed, and the first slot of the day is a lovely start. The visit is indoors, so it suits rainy days too.
- Tickets
- book online in advance for your preferred slot. Children under 5 are free but need a booked time slot.
- Getting there and parking
- enter 42 avenue de Lascaux, 24290 Montignac-Lascaux. From the A89 take exit 17. Parking is free, and P1 is closest.
- Food and drink
- a cafeteria and tea room are on site, and Montignac centre is 1 km away.
- Season
- Lascaux IV is open for most of the year. Lascaux II welcomes individual visitors from spring to early November.
Practical info
Is Lascaux Caves worth visiting with kids?
Campsites nearby
Campsites near Lascaux Caves
Domaine Périgord Vacances
Flower Camping La Sagne
Homair - Domaine de Soleil Plage
Flower Camping Les Ondines
Les Borgnes By TLC Vacances
Camping Sunêlia Le Séquoia
by maeva
A day at Lascaux Caves from your campsite
- 09:00Leave your campsite with jumpers and a flask. Montignac-Lascaux is 25 km from Sarlat and 40 km from Brive, with the A89 (exit 17) making the drive easy
- 10:00Park for free at P1 and arrive 20 minutes before your booked time slot
- 10:20Step into the full-size replica of the cave: Hall of the Bulls, Axial Diverticulum, Nave and more (about 1 hour)
- 11:30Explore the workshop, 3D cinema and immersion room, then head up to the rooftop belvedere
- 13:00Lunch at the on-site cafeteria and tea room, or in Montignac centre, 1 km away
- 14:30Visit Lascaux II for a more intimate look at the Hall of the Bulls, or meet the life-size prehistoric animals at Parc du Thot
- 16:30Wander through Montignac old town and along the riverbank of the Vézère
- 18:30Back at the campsite for dinner and a debrief on whose favourite animal wins
What are the Lascaux Caves?
Lascaux is one of the world's most celebrated painted caves, hidden in a hillside above Montignac in the Dordogne. It was found on 12 September 1940 by four teenagers, and in 1979 it joined the UNESCO World Heritage list together with other prehistoric sites of the Vézère valley. The paintings feature hundreds of animals, including horses, bulls, deer and felines.
The original cave has been preserved since 1963 and is no longer open to visitors. The good news is that today's replicas are so finely made that you can enjoy the experience in comfort, whatever the weather.
Lascaux IV: the full cave, recreated
Opened in December 2016 at the foot of the hill, Lascaux IV is the International Centre for Cave Art. Designed by the architects Snøhetta, it covers more than 8,000 m² and recreates the entire cave to the millimetre. Highlights include:
- The cave itself: Hall of the Bulls, Axial Diverticulum, Passage, Nave, Feline Diverticulum, Apse and Shaft
- The Atelier, with the main motifs on eight walls and a model of the whole cave
- A 3D cinema, a theatre and an immersion room
- The rooftop belvedere, with views over the Vézère valley
The tour starts with the cave at the time on your ticket, followed by the centre's other spaces. Guided tours run in French and English, and audio guides are available in Dutch and many other languages. A tablet companion with headphones accompanies your visit.
Lascaux II: a shorter, more atmospheric visit
Lascaux II, the first replica, opened in 1983 just 200 m from the original cave. It reproduces 90% of the polychrome paintings, including the Hall of the Bulls and the Axial Gallery. Allow about an hour for a guided visit that feels quieter and more intimate. A combined ticket with Lascaux IV lets you compare both, and a Lascaux II and Parc du Thot ticket is also available.
Visiting Lascaux with children and teenagers
Families will love how hands-on it feels. Children from 5 get a digital companion, and during school holidays an explorer-led storytelling tour adds adventure. Under-5s are free with a booked slot, and babies ride in a soft carrier. Teenagers tend to enjoy the interactive exhibits and the immersive rooms, and summer evenings offer extended opening hours.
Tickets, parking and planning your visit
Book online ahead to secure your preferred slot, and arrive 20 minutes early. Parking is free, with P1 the closest car park and P2 a short walk away. Backpacks stay in the lockers, and the cafeteria and tea room are handy for lunch. Allow about 3 hours in total. Spring and autumn are particularly pleasant, and the first slot of the day gets you off to a great start.
Make a day of it around Montignac
Montignac old town sits on the Vézère, just 1 km from the site. Parc du Thot is a few kilometres away, and the Cyclo Vallée de l'Homme loop is a lovely option for cyclists. Rouffignac, the Mammoth cave, is explored on a little train in about an hour, so even young children can come along. Sarlat is 25 km away, Brive 40 km and Périgueux 55 km.
Our tip: book the earliest slot of the day and treat Lascaux as a morning outing. You arrive fresh, park at P1 and have the afternoon free for the Vézère valley. We like to pair Lascaux IV with Lascaux II, because seeing the same Hall of the Bulls in two very different settings is rather magical. Do pack a jumper for everyone, as the cave is a steady 13 °C, even on a hot Dordogne day. Families with a baby should bring a soft carrier, and children from 5 will love their own digital companion. Finish in Montignac, 1 km away, with an ice cream by the river before heading back to the campsite for a well-earned barbecue.
— Tip from our specialist
Frequently asked questions about Lascaux Caves
Can you visit the real Lascaux Cave?
No, the original cave has been preserved since 1963 and does not open to visitors under any ticket. Happily, Lascaux IV recreates the whole cave to the millimetre, and Lascaux II reproduces 90% of the polychrome paintings. Both give you a wonderful, close look at the Ice Age artwork.
Which is better, Lascaux II or Lascaux IV?
Lascaux IV is the complete replica, with the Atelier, 3D cinema, immersion room and rooftop belvedere. Lascaux II is shorter, at about an hour, and more atmospheric, focusing on the Hall of the Bulls and the Axial Gallery. Many visitors enjoy both, and a combined ticket makes that easy.
How long does a visit to Lascaux IV take?
The cave tour takes about an hour, and the whole centre adds the workshop, cinema, immersion room and belvedere. Plan about 3 hours in total, arriving 20 minutes before your booked slot. Add roughly an hour if you want to see Lascaux II in the afternoon as well.
Are babies and young children welcome at Lascaux?
Yes. Children under 5 enter free with a booked time slot, and children from 5 receive a digital companion adapted to their age. Babies are carried in a soft baby carrier, as pushchairs are not used on the route. The cave is around 13 °C, so bring jumpers.
How do I get to the Lascaux Caves from my campsite?
The car is the easiest way from any campsite in the Vézère and Périgord Noir area. Enter 42 avenue de Lascaux, 24290 Montignac-Lascaux in your satnav. Montignac is 25 km from Sarlat and 40 km from Brive, and the A89 exit 17 is close. Parking is free.