EL AJEDREZADO CAVE

Arnedillo is a municipality in the Alto Valle del Río Cidacos (declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2003). It is located at 651 meters above sea level and has an area of 48 square kilometers. Surrounded by mountains, the area is known for its thermal waters. The Cidacos Green Route, a 34-kilometre natural walk between Arnedo and Arnedillo takes advantage of the route of a former railway, is spectacular due to the colour and landscape that we see along it, the vegetation of poplars, willows and ash trees. Following this route we will find ourselves surrounded by reddish rocky cliffs that keep cellars hidden in the wall and at the top, we see numerous pairs of vultures.

The Cidacos Valley preserves some human occupations from the last moments of the Lower Palaeolithic and Middle Palaeolithic. Nevertheless, the best prehistoric remains of the first occupations have been dated to the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age periods, with many open-air settlements and the first uses of rock shelters and small caves built in the wide rocky foothills along the river. Very interesting is the Roman period and the first centuries of the Middle Ages (Visigothic period) in the area, when wine production was increased and this area became an important and rich territory that was first brought under control by the Islamic people and then by the older Christian kingdoms of Navarre, Castile and Aragon (who fought for centuries for control of this zone). It was in this context that the Cave of the Hundred Pillars was developed.