Pierre Andrieu/AP/PA
Lascaux caves in south-western France - the Sistine chapel of prehistoric art
Giant crystal chambers, glow worm infestations, eerie underwater lights and vast forests of dripstone: all these are found in caves that qualify for the title of the world's loveliest. But if one subterranean site must be picked, then our choice is for the awesome cave complex that has been called the Sistine chapel of prehistoric art. The Lascaux caves in south-west France are filled with startlingly beautiful 17,000-year-old images of bison, horses, wild cattle and ibex. While the caves are no longer open to the public, for fear of damaging the paintings, nearby Lascaux II is a very impressive replica of the most celebrated halls, created by using the same methods and materials as the original artists.
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