The Lascaux cave paintings were discovered in 1940. On 12 September that year, 18-year-old Marcel Ravidat found the cave entrance near Montignac in southwestern France after investigating a hole associated with an uprooted tree. He returned with three friends, who entered the cave and found its walls covered with striking prehistoric animal paintings.
The teenagers initially believed the passage might lead to a legendary tunnel near Lascaux Manor. Instead, they encountered galleries containing images of horses, deer, aurochs, bison and other animals. The famous Hall of the Bulls became one of the best-known sections of the cave.
The discovery quickly attracted archaeological attention. The priest and prehistorian Henri Breuil visited the site later in September 1940 and helped document the paintings. Lascaux opened to the public in 1948, but thousands of visitors introduced heat, carbon dioxide, humidity and microorganisms that damaged the artwork. The original cave was closed in 1963, and carefully made replicas now allow visitors to experience the paintings while protecting the fragile originals.