CONTREBIA LEUCADE

Google Maps:
41.978851, -1.973417

Type of site:
Proto-historic Settlement and Interpretation Centre

Place of location: Contrebia Leucade
Village/Town: Inestrillas
Municipality: Aguilar del Río Alhama (La Rioja)
Region: La Rioja
State: Spain
Telephone: (+34) 941 197 119
Website: https://www.contrebialeucade.com/
E-mail: contrebialeucade@gmail.com

Natural Environment:

Biosphere Reserve UNESCO Alto Valle del Río Cidacos. Special Bird Conservation Area. A 10 km adapted path for pedestrians allows you to contemplate the landscape and nature of the valley of the river Alhama (tributary of the river Ebro), between the towns of Cervera and Aguilar del Río Alhama.

Archaeological evidences in the site:

The site is located in the heart of the Celtiberian area, in the Ebro Valley, where there are a lot of of fortified settlements of the Second Iron Age and places with Roman sites.

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Opening Times:

The Archaeological Site cannot be visited on its own, it is closed outside the established hours. Guided visits: Summer (15th June to 15th September): Saturdays, at 18:30 pm. Sundays: 10:00 am. / Rest of the year: only Saturdays, at 16:30 pm.

Booking and access:

It is always advisable to book the visit in advance, as the capacity is limited. Organized groups must arrange their visit. Reservations: Calling the Interpretation Centre (+34 941 197 119) or sending an email to: contrebialeucade@gmail.com

Nearby cultural destinations:

Inestrillas: A defensive system from the early medieval period, attached to the rocky escarpment on the Alhama River, to the east of the present town of Inestrillas. Tower-fortress finished off with battlements. / Aguilar del Río Alhama: Middle Age Castle and Interpretation Centre of Contrebia Leucade. / Cervera del Río Alhama: medieval Castle-fortress and Museum of “alpargata” (espadrille).

Nearby natural destinations:

Eco-routes in the municipality of Aguilar del Río Alhama : http://www.aguilar-inestrillas.org/Rutas.429.0.html

Accommodations (Tourism Website):
http://www.aguilar-inestrillas.org/Alojamientos.4113.0.html
Restaurants (Tourism Website):
http://www.aguilar-inestrillas.org/Restaurante.4111.0.html

Age of the artistic representations:

Iron Age (especially Celtiberian culture, Second Iron Age period)-Roman period-Visigothic period.

General description of the destination:

The visit of the site is based on a guided tour of an authentic Celtiberian city, with its walls, streets and houses partially excavated in the rock. During the visit it is possible to know why this strategic place was occupied throughout the centuries, especially during the Protohistory and the period of Romanization. The visit is completed with a visit to the nearby Aguilar del Río Alhama Interpretation Centre, where it is possible to recreate the life of the ancient Celtiberians, by means of various audiovisual and sensory resources, as well as workshops where we can weave clothes of the period, or write our name in the alphabet of the Celtiberian language.

History of the site:

This place was occupied from the end of the Bronze Age (burial in the “Cave of the Lakes”), with occupations in the First Iron Age. However, the most important development of the site was in the Second Iron Age, with important evidence of Celtiberian culture. In the 2nd century BC the site was conquered by the Roman army, being an important scene of the Sertorian Wars. Archaeological research began in the 18th century and was continued by local historians during the 19th century. Already in the 20th century, archaeologists Blas Taracena Aguirre, first, and José Antonio Hernández Vera, since 1989, developed important excavations and studies that are still ongoing. It is, therefore, a visitable site with scientific activity, given its size and complexity.

Museographic resources description:

In Aguilar del Río Alhama is located the Interpretation Centre of the Archaeological site Contrebia Leucade. The centre is foccussed in the history and the archaeological knowledge of the site shows different aspects of the Iron Age and the Roman and Visigotic occupations. It is opened to the public every day of the week, except Sunday afternoons and Mondays Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm. Sundays and holidays from 11 h. to 14 h. MONDAY CLOSED. There are no age restrictions and there is access for the disabled (ramp, lift, wide corridors and bathroom facilities for the disabled).