Cave of Lascaux (Grotte de Lascaux)

Discovered by chance in 1940 by a group of teenagers, the cave paintings at Lascaux are considered to be among the world’s best examples of prehistoric art. The area around Périgueux features many such cave paintings, although the 15,000-year-old images of bulls, horses and reindeer are believed to be some of the best. After the discovery of the cave, the increasing levels of carbon dioxide emitted by visitors were found to be damaging the paintings and, as a result, the caves were sealed in 1963, following an order from the French Ministry of Cultural Affairs. In order to compensate for the closure, a precise cement replica of the original caves, known as Lascaux II, was opened to the public in 1983; these caves feature the two most important parts of the original caves, the Great Hall of the Bulls and the Painted Gallery.