Can you visit any of the actual prehistoric cave paintings in France?

Question

I know that a few of them are closed to the public, and there is a mock up of one that you can visit, but are any of the actual caves able to be visited?

Answer 1

Yes you can, there a lot of original caves in France ans Spain open to the public. In France I visited Pech Merle: http://www.pechmerle.com/

The most famous, Lascaux, is a copy but that shouldn't stop you from visiting it, it looks just as real. The fact that a modern artist had to paint a copy is actually fascinating, they'll show you a film on how she did it using ancient techniques. And once in the cave when the guide turns off the lights and only uses lighters to show how prehistoric people actually saw the cave, it's unforgettable. People were on the verge of tears from emotion. Much more beautiful than Pech Merle.

http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcna...

In the same region as Lascaux, the following original painted caves are open to the public:

Grotte de Rouffignac http://www.grottederouffignac.fr/cadreGB...

Grotte de Font de Gaume

Grotte des Combarelles

http://www.leseyzies.com/grottes-ornees/...

Keep in mind that the best caves have to be protected from the damage caused by visitors so none of the actual cave paintings open to the public are half as gorgeous as the Lascaux II replica.