Visitor Center of the Lascaux Cave by Snøhetta

The story of the discovery of the world-famous Lascaux cave near the French village of Montignac is at least as remarkable as the prehistoric paintings inside that later captivated the scientific community. The discovery is credited to a group of four young men who, in 1940, explored the valley of the Vézere River with their dog. The cave complex, with a total length of 150 meters, contains approximately 150 paintings and more than 15,000 rock engravings that date back to around 15,000 BC.
The first visitor facility at the cave was established in 1983. Now, the results of an international competition have been announced, in which the Norwegian association Snøhetta won. The visitor center "Lascaux 4" is to feature a replica of the entire cave. In the previous facility "Lascaux 2," visitors were shown only sections of the actual cave "Lascaux 1," which was completely closed in 1963 to protect against the high levels of carbon dioxide in the air. The "Lascaux 3" facility is designed for temporary exhibitions, with some exhibits available for loan to museums around the world.
The winning project by Snøhetta is hidden beneath an artificial mound, seamlessly blending into the surrounding nature. Just as the cave painters incorporated the texture of stone into their artworks, Snøhetta takes into account the hilly landscape and conceals its design beneath the surface. The "Lascaux 4" facility opens towards the valley facing Montignac with a long glass facade, behind which lie the individual parts of the visitor center, from where narrow paths lead into the underground exhibition spaces. In addition to a replica of the legendary cave, a digital exhibition on the history of cave painting will also be prepared for visitors.