Lascaux Cave Paintings are Closed
Tourist access to the caves was cut off in 1963, a mere twenty years after its discovery, because the crowds were damaging to the site. The visitors were changing the cave’s ecosystem not because of behavior or garbage, but having so many people in a small space with very little air circulation meant a rise in the heat, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels in the caves. This led to mold and fungus growth, a natural threat to the original cave paintings. The lighting was making the paint fade, its bright, vibrant colors washing out after being exposed to light. The cave was sealed off. But a replica is available for visitors to explore. This lets them have the experience without threatening the very thing they wanted to see.