Leaving the Loire Valley, we headed south to the Périgord region to the town of Montignac where the Lascaux caves were discovered. We didn’t have any real expectations, as all we knew was that the site consisted of caves where prehistoric drawings could be seen.
We were very pleasantly surprised and extremely impressed. We found ourselves entering a brand new interpretive centre that had just been opened in December 2016. The architecture was incredible and the curators had done an excellent job with the exhibits and guided tours.
You cannot view the cave drawings without first taking a guided tour (available in French or English) which explains the history of human habitation, development and capabilities 40,000 years ago. The tour involves videos, explanations from the guide and a visit through a meticulous recreation of the caves and the drawings. The real caves are still nearby but were ordered sealed several years ago to prevent further degradation from humans and environmental factors. They spent years creating a replica of the caves which are so accurate that archaeologists and anthropologists study the drawings in the reproduced cave.
The guide was very knowledgeable, providing great insight and context to the drawings. The caves themselves are tall enough that the original artists needed to create some sort of scaffolding. There are some narrower places to move through but generally accessible.
After the tour, you enter the interactive portion of the interpretive centre. Every visitor is given their own tablet which interacts with the displays. The tablets provide information and short videos about the drawings. The displays were incredible 3D sections of the cave that allowed you to study the drawings in more detail.
There was also a theatre showing a 3D movie about the drawings and a short theatre-type performance about the discovery of the drawings.
We were all amazed at the sophistication of the drawings, as well as the number and variety. The artists had rudimentary animation, as well as perspective. It was incredible to think of the amount of work needed just to start drawing!
Our prehistoric ancestors took time, after all of the work they had to do on a daily basis just to survive, to draw, which underscores its importance. There is speculation that it had a spiritual significance but it certainly showed the importance of creative expression.
We would happily return to the Périgord region. It was very picturesque with quaint villages and rolling landscapes.
Next stop: Carcassonne!