The ACTUAL cave drawings are sealed off from public view. They are recreated in a separate cave area where tourists can take pictures and gawk to their hearts content.
When they were first discovered in 1940, by some teens exploring, they became an instant attraction. But they soon began to deteriorate because of the increase in humidity and introduction of fungi and lichen from tourists tramping into the caves.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascaux
They’re incredibly beautiful and appear to be modern, almost abstract paintings. It would be a terrible shame if they were lost.
Thanks for the link, Red Badger.