In this half-day tour, you will have the opportunity to visit a real cave with prehistoric rock art. You will explore the Cave of El Castillo and the Cave of Las Monedas, both declared UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2008. We will also visit the new Rock Art Center and the village of Puente Viesgo.
- Visit the Cave of El Castillo or Cave of the Hands
- Visit the cave of Las Monedas
- Visit the new centre of Rupestrial Art of Puente Viesgo
- Walk around the village of Puente Viesgo and the Pas river
- Enjoy the views over the Pasiego Valleys
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| Not included |
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| Duration | 5 Hours |
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| Participants | There must be at least 4 participants to do this tour. Maximum group of 8 people. |
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Further information
After picking you up from your hotel in Santander, we will head to Monte Castillo in Puente Viesgo to visit the famous caves of "El Castillo" and "Las Monedas." This is a very important site in the world of rock art, as this mountain is home to four caves that were declared UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2008.
The Cave of El Castillo was discovered in 1903 by Hermilio Alcalde del Río. This cave is famous for its paintings, which are considered among the oldest in the world. Notable features include the negative handprints, which archaeologists believe belong to more than 50 different people, most of whom were women, as well as one of the oldest representations of a constellation and depictions of the fauna that coexisted with the successive human groups who inhabited the cave. The studied human remains indicate that both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens coexisted in this cave, making it a unique site in prehistory.
Although the Cave of Las Monedas does not have as wide a variety of pictorial periods, it does offer beautiful charcoal outlines of various animals from the Magdalenian period. This cave also has high geological value, so you will enjoy the play of colors and shapes created by its stalactites, stalagmites, lava flows, flags, and more...
Our next stop will be the recently opened Rock Art Interpretation Center, an ideal visit to complement the experience of exploring the caves and helping us better understand the origin and development of rock art. Finally, we will take a short walk through Puente Viesgo to explore its greenway, the charming Pas River, its historic town hall and church, as well as the Puente Viesgo spa, which has greatly contributed to the development of this small inland village.
If you are visiting Cantabria and enjoy rock art, this is a must-see!
