Lascaux, 2km southeast of Montignac, is home to France’s most famous prehistoric paintings. Though the original cave was long ago closed for its protection, Lascaux IV is a cutting-edge copy. Using laser technology and 3D printing, the exact contours, engravings and nearly 600 paintings have been reproduced to the millimetre, and the result feels remarkably like a real cave – it's damp, dark and chilly, and the whole experience can be spine-tingling.
After the hour-long cave visit, you're turned loose with a tablet to explore the excellent Lascaux Studio, where life-size renderings of all the major scenes are given context with superimposed images. There's a multimedia show, a 3D film and an interactive gallery examining relationships between prehistoric and modern art.
Online reservations (advisable) can be made up to two days ahead. A certain number of same-day tickets are sold on-site, so if you show up bright and early you might still get in without pre-booking. Various combination deals offer reduced entry fees to nearby, related sites.
