The world-renowned Lascaux Cave in the Dordogne's Vézère Valley has been closed to the public since 1963. Next month (15 December 2016) sees the opening of the new Lascaux 4, the Montignac International Art Centre which will catapult the presentation of the Cave's prehistoric drawings into the 21st century. South-west France rental specialist, Simply Périgord offers a number of properties within easy reach of the new Centre – considered to be THE single biggest French cultural opening of the year.

The Lascaux Cave, with its extraordinary Palaeolithic animal drawings and artwork, was discovered by four teenagers during a dog walk in 1940. Located near to the small town of Montignac, the Cave was one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th Century. It went on to become a hugely popular worldwide attraction but had to close to the public after body heat was found to be causing significant damage to the artwork.

The new discovery Centre will contain an exact replica of the original Lascaux Cave using new virtual reality and image technology to present perfectly identical drawings. Workshops across four exhibition rooms will allow visitors to interact with Lascaux's fascinating 20,000 year history.

For those looking for an insight into their prehistoric ancestry with a visit to Lascaux 4, Simply Périgord offers a wide range of properties, including the following:

Jolie Vue (sleeps 8, located 11 miles from Lascaux)

A delightful country house set among rolling valleys and woodlands, Jolie Vue is ideal for a large group getaway, with four double/twin bedrooms including a master bedroom with fabulous views of the garden and surrounding valley. Outside, the property benefits from several grassy courtyards and a large salt-water gated swimming pool. Within the grounds are two ponds, also accessed by a gate, situated on the lower woodland level. Nearby, the town of Les Eyzies provides activities for the more adventurous, including canoeing, mountain biking and horse riding. Price: One week's mid-season rental costs from €1,190, sleeping 8 (or from just €995 for under occupancy for 6 people or less).

Chateau des Bois (sleeps 20, located 16 miles from Lascaux)

Set on the former site of an ancient forge, the Château des Bois is a collection of elegant properties that are of significant historical importance. Nestling in almost 73 hectares of grounds and woodlands, they are ideally situated to explore the surrounding landscape. In the main Chartreuse, a stone staircase leads up to a spacious sitting room, an impressive formal dining room and bedrooms. Downstairs there is a snug area with a bar and a large kitchen, including French doors that open directly onto a spacious terrace. Opposite, the equally beautiful Maison d'Amis provides a further four twin/double en suite bedrooms, with an open plan kitchen-dining area. Set on one side of the grounds is a private pool with a sunbathing terrace and a huge covered pergola, complete with a sunken fire pit, and large barbecue area. Both houses have central heating and wood burners for cold winter nights. The properties are located within reasonable distance of Les Eyzies, for banks, restaurants and supermarkets. Price: One week's low season rental costs from €6,950, sleeping a maximum of 20 people.

Mauzens (sleeps 8, located 16 miles from Lascaux) 

Located in a quiet hamlet, Mauzens is a beautifully restored old stone farmhouse which enjoys stunning views across the nearby forest and valleys. The ground floor is an eclectic mix of modern and original features. Expect exposed stonework and original beams complemented by a brand-new kitchen and bathrooms and a well-equipped pantry. All the bedrooms have their own bathrooms. The house is also equipped with central heating, while the wood burning stove in the living room provides warmth during chilly evenings. This rural property has the best of both worlds being close to the town of Le Bugue, which is great for shopping and restaurants. Price: One week's low season rental costs from €1,217, sleeping 8 people (or from just €980 for under occupancy for 6 people or fewer).

Travel: There is a selection of regional airports to choose from including Bergerac, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Limoges and Brive, plus a wide choice of ferry and rail options.

For further information visit Simply Périgord (simply-perigord.com, +33 5 53 54 54 31).

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Lascaux 2 is a replica of the original Lascaux Cave and opened in 1983, while Lascaux 3 is a worldwide travelling exhibition which began touring in 2012. Lascaux 4 will combine the three previous Lascaux exhibitions into a full digital replica centre.

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Julia Spence, Hugh Collins or Tom Robins

Julia Spence Public Relations

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