End of season in the Dordogne

Lascaux Cave

The tourist season has now ended in most of France and ever so much more here in the Dordogne. The Sarlat film festival has come to an end and as most locals know this marks the beginning of hibernation for all of us linked with the travel trade  - restaurants, hotels, service providers and tourist sites.

Amongst the most famous sites of the region to have closed is Lascaux II cave - the reproduction. The cave celebrated its 70th anniversary - that is the finding of the cave - and what you visit today is a reproduction of the original closed to the public in the 60's because of the number of visitors. Funny enough, Lascaux II is also closed this winter (and will also close next winter) for just about the same reasons. The site welcomes more than 3000 visitors per day in summer and this "exact" reproduction suffers from these numbers. Who would have thought that even the reproduction had a micro-climate of its own... Thankfully President Sarkozy who visited the original on that famous anniversary day announced a Lascaux III!!! I wonder if that re-reproduction will also suffer from over crowding?

For all those that wish to visit an authentic cave while Lascaux is closed why not head for Font de Gaume cave where you will experience some of the most breathtaking original paintings in a small group especially at this time of year. Even better, if you call ahead they can organise an unusual 2 hour tour that only takes place in the winter and during which one can admire just about all the paintings.

Chris