Lascaux is the French cave famous for its prehistoric wall paintings. Located near Montignac in the Dordogne, it contains hundreds of painted and engraved images, especially horses, aurochs, bison, deer, and other Ice Age animals.
The cave was discovered in September 1940 when teenager Marcel Ravidat’s dog investigated a hole near an uprooted tree. Ravidat returned with three friends, and their discovery revealed galleries such as the Hall of the Bulls, the Nave, and the Shaft. The paintings are generally associated with the Upper Paleolithic and are commonly dated to roughly 17,000–22,000 years ago.
Lascaux became a major tourist attraction after opening to visitors in 1948, but human breath, humidity, and microorganisms damaged the artwork. The original cave was closed to the public in 1963. Visitors now see carefully made replicas, including Lascaux II and later exhibition installations.
A common mix-up is Chauvet Cave, also in France. Chauvet is older and is celebrated for exceptionally early animal art, while Lascaux is the site most strongly associated with the iconic “prehistoric paintings” quiz clue.