Prehistoric cave paintings along Camino del Norte

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Frank.B

New Member

• Apr 4, 2013

• #1

Hi,
Does anyone have experience of visiting any of the caves where there are prehistoric paintings while walking the Camino Norte? Most likely, I will be transitioning between the Norte and Primitivo at Villaviciosa so may miss the major site at Altimira but will probably take a bus to see the paintings when in Santiago in any case.
Thanks
F.

 

Tia Valeria

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Pt Norte/Pmtvo 2010
C. Inglés 2011
C. Primitivo '12
Norte-C. de la Reina '13
C. do Mar-C. Inglés '15

• Apr 4, 2013

• #2

The cave of Tito Bustillo just over the bridge at Ribadasella is very good. You need to buy a timed ticket, often has to be for next day. Follow the Camino signs to the end of the bridge and turn left instead of right. The cave is about 200mts along the road.
http://www.spainisculture.com/en/monumentos/asturias/cueva_del_tito_bustillo.html
It is well worth taking a day off if necessary to see this cave.

There is also the cave of Pindal near Bustio (Unquera)

If you are walking the Norte between Santander and Ribadasella you will pass through Santillana del Mar. The museum for the cave of Altalmira is about 2kms outside of the village but off the Camino itself. You cannot go down the original cave.

 

F

Frank.B

New Member

• Apr 5, 2013

• #3

Thanks very much! Getting to see any of these would be an absolute dream...! I hope your preparation is in full swing! Only 20 days until I leave for Bilbao!!!

 

Dave

Active Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

First: Camino Francés 2002; most recent: Norte/Primitivo 2019

• Apr 5, 2013

• #4

Frank, I agree with TV that the Tito Bustillo Caves in Ribadesella are the way to go. These are the originals, unlike the Altamira replica cave near Santillana. It was a major highlight for me the last time that I was on the Norte.

I'd stress making a reservation farther in advance, if you can pin down your date. There are limited spots available each day and it's quite common for the cave to get booked solid. You can make a reservation here:

http://www.centrodearterupestredetitobu ... rante&id=3

Dave

 

angulero

Active Member

• Apr 7, 2013

• #5

Ten kilometers from Grao in the Primitivo, have the cave of San Román de Candamo. Open from June to September. Entry is limited to 45 people a day and think it is free. To book you have to call the phone number listed in the link I put below.

http://www.ayto-candamo.es/cueva-de-la-pena

More links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV6gheCWaxc

 

F

Frank.B

New Member

• Apr 8, 2013

• #6

Dave, thanks for the link and the heads up about the possibility of the cave being booked out. I will have to wait a while before booking anything tough as I'm keeping a pretty loose schedule. But seeing these is practically the only thing on my 'must do' list.
Angulero, thanks for the information but I am walking the Camino Norte from the 25th of April until the 30th of May so I will just miss the opening season for the cave of San Roman de Candamo (just my luck, eh)!
Thanks again, guys.
Frank

 

Rozenn

Active Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

April/may 2022 SJPP to Santiago

• Sep 12, 2019

• #7

If you walk by the Asturias coast close to the little town of Columbres , don’t miss The houseof Indiano archives there!!! About the emigrants who went to South America, built fortunes with hard work and good social ethic and made their homeland benefit of that. They created schools and hospitals and built summer houses absolutely magnificent . You will be surprised to see so
Many of this stunning houses in tiny villages in the middle of nowhere .looking like beautiful Mexican haciendas
!https://www.archivodeindianos.es/