Unfortunately, no members of the public may access the restricted cave system. This is to protect the valuable yet delicate artworks that lay inside. One might wonder what damage we could possibly do, seeing that the artworks have survived for thousands of years, but the truth is, before the influx of humans to cave systems to see ancient artwork, there would have been a handful of beings in the cave, not thousands of daily visitors. Even just the act of breathing disturbs the natural balance of air and water in the cave system, creating films of mold that begin to decay the wall surfaces. However, in recent years, a man-made replica of the cave system has been created so that people interested in the artworks can experience what it was like. Much time and effort have been taken to create a genuine experience, perfectly capturing the ambiance and environment of the inner cave systems of Chauvet.