Cantabria is characterized by numerous prehistoric caves of artistic, historical and geological enormous: The Soplao Cullalvera, El Castillo and Altamira are the greatest expression of this heritage.

Opened by the persistent action of groundwater on the limestone, were home and sanctuary for people who populated the Cantabrian mountains for thousands of years. They left their mark in the form of rock art and furnishings, allowing people to sense this past.

Cuevas El Soplao
Over 30 kilometers of galleries that make up Soplao Cave exceptional archaeological heritage of mining and geological interest. The stunning formations in the cave houses are bringing a whole set of chiaroscuro, sensations, smells and colors.

In The Soplao especially prominent helíctitas shaped elements, which grow to compose all kinds of circles, spirals, corkscrews, etc.. Already in the areas of adventure tourism and caving are in areas covered by those known as cave pearls, formations similar to oysters produce pearls. And, of course, one can not ignore the “false floor”, an area considered the “Sistine Chapel” of the underworld.

Cave Cullalvera
Cullalvera Cave is part of a complex karst, developed over some 12 miles during which the erosive action of water on the limestone, with the help of time, culminating in the genesis of a unique cave.

Cullalvera is a large cavity with an inlet spectacular and surprising shortcuts. It contains two types of prehistoric remains: manifestations of rock art and a small witness of the site, both the Paleolithic.

The cave is located in the municipality of Branches of the Victory in an environment that is constituted as a magical space. In it, the colossal entrance mouth emerges from a grove of oak trees of great ecological value to introduce visitors to the depth of the rock.

Cave Castle
Located in the Monte Castillo, in Puente Viesgo, the cave of El Castillo contains the sequence of geological strata fuller Cantabria, with levels from the Lower Paleolithic, Middle, Upper, Epipaleolithic, Recent Prehistory and Middle Ages. This sequence was very important in the early twentieth century, since it served to define the chronological-cultural evolution of Western European Paleolithic.

Also, this cave was discovered in 1903 have obtained numerous samples of portable art, especially Magdalenian, among which the famous blades of deer with striated engravings naturalists. The walls provide shelter for a rich and varied collection of paintings, the second largest in the Cantabrian Coast.

Altamira Cave
The discovery of the paintings of the Altamira Cave in 1879 by D. Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola meant the discovery of Paleolithic rock art, and its most spectacular. Undoubtedly the Altamira Cave is a cultural milestone in the history of mankind.

Bison, horses, deer, hands and mysterious signs, painted and engraved, are the expression of the inhabitants of the cave 15,000 years ago during the Upper Palaeolithic. Altamira Cave is a World Heritage Site since 1985.

The alteration of the natural conditions of the cave itself is the biggest risk to the rock art, and that was precisely the danger created by the massive influx of visitors to Altamira in the 60 and 70. Therefore, following its closure and reopening in 1982 is being conducted by carefully controlling the number of people entering the Cave of Altamira for the maintenance of environmental conditions that have been preserved for thousands of years.

Information obtained from www.cuevasdecantabria.es