Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
its distinct animal or symbol to the collage, putting it in just the right spot that established
their place in history?
The fact that styles and subject matter changed so little over the millennia might im-
ply that the artists purposely chose timeless images to relate their generation with those
beforeandafter.Perhapstheysimplylivedinastableculturethatdidnotvalueinnovation.
Or were these people too primitive to invent new techniques and topics?
Maybe the paintings are simply the result of the universal human drive to create, and
these caverns were Europe's first art galleries, bringing the first tourists.
Verylikelythereisnosinglemeaningthatappliestoallthepaintingsinallthecaves.
Prehistoric art may be as varied in meaning as current art.
Picture yourself as a Magdalenian viewing these paintings: You'd be guided by
someone into a cold, echoing, and otherworldly chamber. In the darkness, someone would
light torches and lamps, and suddenly the animals would flicker to life, appearing to run
around the cave, like a prehistoric movie. In front of you, a bull would appear, behind you
a mammoth (which you'd never seen in the flesh), and overhead a symbol that might have
tied the whole experience together. You'd be amazed that an artist could capture the real
world and reproduce it on a wall. Whatever the purpose—religious, aesthetic, or just plain
fun—there's no doubt the effect was (and is) thrilling.
Today, you can visit the caves and share a common experience with a caveman. Feel
a bond with these long-gone people...or stand in awe at how different they were from us.
Ultimately, the paintings are as mysterious as the human species.
Helpful Hints
Drivers Fare Best:
All the prehistoric caves listed here are within a reasonable drive of
Sarlat. Considering the scarcity of public transit, if you don't have a car, you'll be
like a caveman without a spear (see
here
for guided tours that connect some of these
sights).
Get up Early:
Only the Lascaux II, Grotte du Pech Merle, and, in July and August, Abri
du Cap Blanc caves take reservations; for all others it's first-come, first-served. That
means it's essential to arrive early to secure a ticket, and then find something to do in
theareaifyouhavetimetokill.Howearlyyouneedtoarrivevariesbycave;I'vesug-
gested times for caves where you can't make a reservation. July, August, and holiday
weekends are busiest; Saturdays are generally quiet—but note that Grotte de Font-de-
Gaume and Abri du Cap Blanc are closed that day, and from October to mid-May, so
is the Prehistory Welcome Center.
Cave Tips:
Read“CaveArt101”(previoussection)togainabetterunderstandingofwhat
you'll see. Dress warmly, even if it's hot outside. Tours can last up to an hour, and the
