Cueva de Santimamiñe (Santimamiñe Cave) – Kortezubi, Spain - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Cueva de Santimamiñe (Santimamiñe Cave)

Kortezubi, Spain

An archeological treasure trove stumbled upon by a couple of children. 

View all photos
The gate of Santimamiñe Cave Simoncio on Wikipedia (Creative Commons)
Left: The gate of Santimamiñe Cave Simoncio on Wikipedia (Creative Commons)
Right: Uphill path leading to the cave gingercinnamon (Atlas Obscura User)
Uphill path leading to the cave gingercinnamon (Atlas Obscura User)
47
314
Top Places in Spain
Sagrat Cor, the church at the very top of Tibidabo. (Wikimedia Commons)
Tibidabo
Barcelona, Spain
Castle Stern - Castell de la Popa
Castellcir, Spain
Bodegas of Aranda de Duero
Aranda de Duero, Spain
 See All

Not all archeological finds are discovered by intrepid explorers. Such is the case with the Santimamiñe Caves in Spain, which were discovered by two children playing near the site.

The cave, as it turned out, contained a wealth of prehistoric artifacts and cave paintings dating back 13,000 years. Primitive depictions of deer, bison, goats, and horses adorn the walls, along with remains from the past all the way up to the Iron Age. The cave provided a valuable, if delicate, look into the distant past of the region. The caves were been closed to the general public since 2006, when a metal gate was bolted to the entrance, but daily guided tours are still available.

Know Before You Go

Regular tours run daily, with the price starting at 5€. Times and ticket information can be found online.

cave paintings caves ecosystems
Nearby
Gaztelugatxe
10.22 miles
Fountain of Dogs
15.69 miles
Stained Glass Window at Bilbao Abando Indalecio Prieto Station
15.80 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain

Gaztelugatxe

Hundreds of stone stairs and a winding medieval bridge connect this haunting Spanish island to the mainland.
Fuente del Perro.
Bilbao, Spain

Fountain of Dogs

This 19th-century fountain's namesake animal isn't what you think it is.
Bilbao, Spain

Stained Glass Window at Bilbao Abando Indalecio Prieto Station

Marvel at this immense work of art that greets arrivals to the city.
Puppy at its permanent location in Aguirre plaza outside the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum.
Bilbao, Spain

Jeff Koons' Puppy

Giant topiary dog once played a role in a terrorist bomb plot.
Related Places
Papasidero, Italy

Romito Cave

A mountain cave is the site of archaeological findings and Paleolithic rock art.
Castillo Cave, entrance
Puente Viesgo, Spain

Caves of Monte Castillo

The walls of these four caverns are filled with art that dates back to the earliest human presence in Europe.
Laas Geel
Hargeisa, Somalia

Laas Geel

This cave located in the badlands of Somaliland contains some of the oldest cave art in Africa.
Cave of Maltravieso
Cáceres, Spain

Cave of Maltravieso

A neighborhood park in the city of Cáceres hides what some believe are revolutionary examples of Neanderthal cave art.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web