Plans are underway for us to visit the caves of Niaux! What a fantastic once-in-a-life time opportunity, which I plan to experience twice-in-a-life time!
Unfortunately, the atmosphere in some of the caves has become detrimental to the paintings due to microorganisms caused by the heat and moisture from visitors. How much longer we will have the privilege of witnessing these ancient works of art is unknown. The caves of Lascaux are currently closed to the public.*
At this time, The Niaux Caves are currently still open to tourists, but as visits are very restricted - only one tour per day in English for a max of 20, I have sent a request to our host to make reservations for us.
Providing arrangements can be made, we will go as a small group underground and travel through the tunnels and caves. Lanterns are provided, but it was my experience that there were not enough for each person to have their own. Although I don't know if they will allow flashlights, it might be a good idea to tuck one into your bag, just in-case. Otherwise, plan on holding hands with me. Prepare to be amazed! The paintings that we will see are approximately 15,000 years old and absolutely beautiful! It will be a thrill you will never forget.
You can read more about our caves by following these links:
http://www.ariege.com/what_to_do/castlescaves/info.html
http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/chauvet/other-caves.php
http://www.donsmaps.com/niauxart.html
http://www.showcaves.com/english/fr/showcaves/Niaux.html
*In case you have not been watching the news regarding the closure of the caves in Lascaux, I'm including the following information from: http://www.artsjournal.com/culturegrrl/2008/04/lascaux_walls_to_be_scraped_wa.html
"The International Committee for the Preservation of Lascaux (ICPL) challenges the French National Television (TF1) announcement last Friday claiming the crisis in Lascaux is resolved.The report asserts that the black spots, which have attacked the cave and its prehistoric paintings since 2006, are now disappearing and gave the impression that cave is cured. Nothing could be further from the truth. While the latest biocide treatments have killed the bacteria on some of the black spots, new areas have been contaminated. Melanin, a black pigment produced by the bacteria, stain the walls and remain a permanent, visual, alteration to the cave's 17,000 year old paintings and to the overall integrity of Lascaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lascaux's administrators are currently implementing an aggressive method they call "decolorization" to remove the melanin by physically scraping the affected areas. The scraping not only removes the melanin but also layers of the walls' surface, whether painted or unpainted, thus irrevocably altering one of mankind's most famous works of art. "
