Caves of Monte Castillo
Cuevas del Monte Castillo
A World Heritage cave site at Puente Viesgo where you can enter the original caves to see red dots and handprints about 40,000 years old, among the oldest cave art in Europe.
The Monte Castillo caves include El Castillo, Las Monedas and several others. In 2008 they were inscribed as World Heritage Sites under the title "Cave of Altamira and Palaeolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain". Inside El Castillo are dozens of negative handprints, red dots, and images of bison and horses, and one of the red dots has been dated to more than 40,000 years old. Visits are by small guided group, about 45 minutes with around 15 people per group, and must be booked in advance through the official Cantabrian caves website. The cave is damp, at about 14°C, and photography is prohibited. It is about 30 km from Santander.
Opening hours
Guided tours Wed–Sun (times vary by season; closed Mon–Tue)
Nearby sights
- El Pendo Cave
- Cabárceno Nature Park
- Liencres Dunes & Costa Quebrada
- Santillana del Mar
- Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana
- Museum of Altamira
- Liérganes
- Mercado de la Esperanza