Dordogne Prehistory: Lascaux IV & Cave Art from Sarlat
What you actually see inside a 20,000-year-old painted cave
You start at the National Prehistory Museum to understand the context, then visit Lascaux IV — a complete replica of the famous painted cave with your guide translating the images — and finish at La Roque Saint-Christophe, a dramatic cliff dwelling site with multiple levels to explore. All entry fees are included, and you choose where to eat lunch. Expect stairs and cold caves; bring a warm layer.
8h
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Dordogne's prehistoric sites
- Visit National Prehistory Museum
- Admire La Roque Saint-Christophe site
- Enjoy lunch break at local restaurant
- Experience Lascaux IV cave replica
The Experience
The National Prehistory Museum opens first, and you spend the morning walking through rooms that hold the world's largest collection of Paleolithic artifacts — hand tools, carved figurines, bone needles, ochre pigments. Your guide walks you through the context: how early humans lived, what they hunted, why they made art on cave walls. It grounds everything that comes next. The museum is in Les Eyzies, about thirty minutes from Sarlat, and the drive itself moves through the Dordogne landscape — limestone cliffs rising above the Vézère river valley, the same geography that shaped where people sheltered thousands of years ago.
Then you reach Lascaux IV, which is not the original cave — that one closed to the public in 1963 because visitor breath and body heat were damaging the paintings. Instead, this is a complete reproduction built in 2016, a few hundred meters from the real site. Your guide explains the paintings before you enter: the horses, the bison, the abstract marks, the handprints. Inside, it's cold — the caves stay at 13°C year-round — and the replica is exact enough that you're standing in front of the same images people drew by torchlight. The English tour happens with your guide translating as you move through; simultaneous translation inside the cave itself is forbidden, so the guide's explanation before and after matters. You're not alone in there — it's a small group, but you share the space with other visitors.
La Roque Saint-Christophe comes after lunch, which you choose yourself at a local restaurant your guide recommends or anywhere else you want to stop. The site is a sheer limestone cliff face that rises 80 meters, and people lived in natural rock shelters carved into it starting in the Paleolithic period. Your guide points out the engineering: how the cliff itself became the roof, how people adapted to the stone, where the hearths were. You climb stairs to reach the different levels — it's not a casual stroll, and the tour description notes it's not suitable for people with mobility issues. But the view from up there, looking out over the valley, is the reason you came. The whole day takes around eight hours from Sarlat and back, and by the end you've moved through 40,000 years of human presence in one region.
What’s included
- Your day includes a professional English-speaking guide, entrance fees to the National Prehistory Museum, Lascaux IV replica cave, and La Roque Saint-Christophe, plus live commentary during the drive from Sarlat.
- You arrange and pay for your own lunch at a local restaurant during the midday break.
- Specialized infant seats are available upon request at the time of booking.
Operated by Ophorus
Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to understand Paleolithic art and human prehistory in the Dordogne without arranging transport or entry tickets yourself. Plan for a full day out with stairs to climb and caves that are cold — that's what gives you access to three major sites and the context to understand them.
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Top questions
Is this the real Lascaux cave?
No. The original Lascaux closed to the public in 1963 to protect the paintings. Lascaux IV is a complete replica built in 2016, located a few hundred meters from the original site, with identical reproductions of the paintings.
How long is the tour?
Around 8 hours total, including the drive from Sarlat, three site visits, and a lunch break you arrange yourself.
Is lunch included?
No. You have a lunch break at a local restaurant your guide recommends, or you can choose your own spot. The cost is not included in the tour price.
How cold are the caves?
The caves stay at 13°C (56°F) year-round. Warm clothing is strongly recommended.
Can I bring young children?
Children under 4 years old are not allowed on the tour. Older children must be accompanied by an adult, and specialized infant seats are available upon request at booking.
Is there a lot of walking or climbing?
Yes. La Roque Saint-Christophe involves climbing stairs to reach different levels of the cliff dwellings. The tour is not suitable for guests with mobility issues.
Will the guide speak English in the caves?
Your guide will explain the paintings before and after you enter Lascaux IV. Simultaneous translation inside the cave is not permitted, so the guide's explanation outside the cave is your main context.
Can I bring pets?
No. Pets are not allowed on the tour.
What if the order of visits changes?
The order of the three sites may vary depending on the reserved time slots at Lascaux IV. Your guide will confirm the itinerary on the day.
What's included in the price?
Professional English-speaking guide, all entrance fees to the National Prehistory Museum, Lascaux IV, and La Roque Saint-Christophe, and live commentary during the drive.
Dordogne Prehistory: Lascaux IV & Cave Art from Sarlat
8h · EN
from € 165 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.60107 reviews
