In Dordogne, the Rouffignac cave unveils its new replicas

The Rouffignac Cave has unveiled a facsimile of its decorated walls, offering a new experience to visitors.

On November 22, 2024, the second edition of the Professional Eductours organized by the Lascaux Dordogne Vallée Vézère tourist office made a stop at the Rouffignac cave.

Frédéric Plassard, the site's director, invited local tourism partners to visit the site. Future projects, including the creation of a facsimile, were discussed.

At the time, he declined to comment on the matter, other than to announce that the site would open to the public on April 6, 2025.

On Friday, April 25, in the presence of elected officials Christian Teillac, Régine Anglard, responsible for Occitan culture and language at the Departmental Council, Mayor Raymond Marty, Alain Dalis (Arc & Os company) who created these replicas, Nathalie Fourmont, director of the Eyzies museum, and other representatives in archaeology, 120 people were invited to the inauguration of the facsimile.

During his speech, Frédéric Plassard retraced the history of the Rouffignac cave, called the cave of 100 mammoths in reference to the many engravings and discoveries (site classified as a Historic Monument in 1957 and included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979).

From 1956, the owners Charles and Louis Plassard contributed to the protection and study of the cave, before undertaking work to develop part of the underground network: laying 1 kilometer of railway track allowing the circulation of electric trains. It opened to the public in the spring of 1959.

Jean and Marie-Odile Plassard, who were responsible for the site since the 1990s, continued to modernize the lighting systems and develop the commentary. Two years ago, Frédéric Plassard took over.

Today, an additional offering enriches the visit: two replicas of decorated walls representing seven mammoths, five bison and a human figure are reproduced in a gallery near the entrance.

Visitors will discover the Well under the Great Ceiling and the Red Room, an identical reproduction made by Alain Dalis of the Arc & Os workshop.