FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY, February 3, 2013 —This year, a replica of the Chauvet Cave in the Ardèche department of the Rhône-Alpes, containing the world’s oldest known cave paintings, will open to the public at the end of 2014. Representing 30 months of work, the replica, which will be known as “The Pont d’Arc Cave,” is located less than five miles from the Chauvet Cave and will be the largest faithful replica of a prehistoric site in Europe.
Dating back 36,000 years, the Chauvet cave predates the renowned Lascaux caves by 21,000 years and contains 1,000 representations, including 425 animal figures made from stone engravings, carbon designs and paintings. An exceptional testimony to the invention of art, lions, caves, bears, snow panthers, mammoths and other predatory animals are depicted, showcasing the quality of the artists’ techniques. The cave has been closed to the public since its discovery for conservation purposes. Set within a vast wooded area covering 72 acres, the Pont d’Arc Cave will feature a discovery center as well as the Chauvet cave replica, which will have a walkway with ten learning stations. Developed closely with a scientific research team to offer a truly state of the art experience, the site is expected to attract 300,000 to 400,000 visitors per year.
France will submit the application for listing the cave as a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the end of January 2014. A decision will be made as to its candidacy in August 2014.
