Decorated Caves: From Lascaux to Altamira, these world treasures of prehistoric art

Decorated caves are moving and essential testimonies to prehistory, captivating researchers and the public alike with their fabulous bestiaries, spectacular hunting scenes, and enigmatic symbols.

These sites, which have not yet revealed all their secrets, underscore the immense historical and artistic importance of cave art, connecting us directly to the origins of human creation.

There are currently 350 decorated caves in the world, but France has the most, with an exceptional heritage of 186 listed sites.

Among the most famous and significant examples worldwide are: Lascaux (France), nicknamed the « Sistine Chapel of cave art » for the incredible richness and quality of its paintings; the Altamira Cave in Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, Spain, which offers one of the most important collections of prehistoric paintings; the Cueva de las Manos (Argentina), famous for its hundreds of negative handprints left by our ancestors; and the Leang-Leang Caves (Indonesia), which house the oldest known figurative painting to date.

These sacred places, at the limits of humanity and creation, offer a fascinating journey through time, and we strongly advise you to discover, rediscover and explore these wonders.