Prehistoric Rock Art Trails

EL CASTILLO CAVE

Google Maps:
43.292540, -3.965490

Type de site:
Cave

Lieu de location: Monte Castillo
Ville: Puente Viesgo
Commune: Puente Viesgo (Cantabria)
Région: Cantabria
Pays: Espagne
Site Web: https://cuevas.culturadecantabria.com/en/

Environnement naturel:

The caves of Monte del Castillo are located in a prominent conical hill covered by holm oaks. The River Pas has formed a wide valley at the base of the hill.

Eléments archéologiques du site:

Monte del Castillo has one of the largest groups of rock art in the world. The caves of El Castillo, La Flecha, Las Chimeneas, La Pasiega and Las Monedas are lined up on the side of the hill, and contain rock art corresponding to all the periods of the Upper Palaeolithic. The abundance and quality of the art in El Castillo is comparable with that of other great shrines in northern Spain, such as Altamira and Tito Bustillo Cave.

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Horaires d'ouverture:

Open every day except January 1st and 6th, and December 24th, 25th and 31st. Low season: From 1st November to 28st February. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, except holidays. Mid season: From 1st March to 13th June and from 18th September to 31st October. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. High season: From 14th June to 17th September. Closed on Mondays.

Réservation et accès:

www.culturadecantabria.com reservascuevas@culturadecantabria.es Telephone: +34 942 598 425

Destinations culturelles proches:

Puente Viesgo: Las Monedas Cave. Castañeda: Romanesque Collegiate. Corvera de Toranzo: Soto Iruz Convent.

Destinations naturelles proches:

The Pas Valley, Sierra del Dobra.

Hébergement (Web du tourisme):
https://turismodecantabria.com/
Restaurants (Web du tourisme):
https://www.turismodecantabria.com/descubrela/donde-comer

Chronologie des représentations rupestres:

The art corresponds to all periods in the Upper Palaeolithic (Aurignacian, Gravettian, Solutrean and Magdalenian) as well as to more recent Prehistoric phases.

Description générale de la destination:

This extraordinary rock art site contains over 500 representations. They include paintings of animals, stencilled hands and signs, as well as engravings of hinds, ibex and aurochs. There is even a figure in relief of a “bison-man”.

Histoire du site:

The cave was discovered by H. Alcalde del Río in 1903. It was excavated between 1910 and 1914 by the Institute of Human Palaeontology of Paris, under the direction of Hugo Obermaier. Further excavations have been undertaken in recent decades, directed by the late Victoria Cabrera and F. Bernaldo de Quirós.

Description des ressources du musée:

The cave entrance has been developed as a Visitor Centre. It is possible to view the archaeological excavations and learn about the times when the cave was occupied. The decorated caves of El Castillo, Las Chimeneas, La Pasiega and Las Monedas can be explored with interactive displays.