Coves de l'Espluga de Francolí L'Espluga de Francolí
The Espluga de Francolí Caves are a gateway to our country's geological and prehistoric past.
The extensive Cova runs through the subsoil of what is now L'Espluga de Francolí. Speleological explorations, which began in 1956, have allowed 3,600 meters of galleries to be explored and surveyed, making it one of the longest conglomerate caves in the world.
Archaeological finds inside these cavities demonstrate their occupation since the Paleolithic and throughout history. The latest discovery was on October 30, 2019, when a team from IPHES (Catalan Institute of Paleoecology and Social Evolution) found a Paleolithic sanctuary made up of more than 300 engravings , the oldest dating back more than 36,000 years.
This sanctuary is the oldest sanctuary discovered to date in Catalonia, making this date a landmark in the history of Catalan archaeology. Currently, visits to this site are not permitted, but you can understand and view images through an audiovisual presentation.
Visits to Les Coves are always guided, covering the various stages of prehistory where human presence has been evident, and explaining the geological formation of the cave.
Guided tour approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
Prices
- Adults: €8.50
- Children (5-14 years): €5.50
- Children under 5 years: Free
- Over 75s: €7.65
Ticket sales on the website www.esplugaturisme.cat.
Schedules
Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Weekend: from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
July
Monday to Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
August
Monday to Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
*Closed on January 1 and 6 and December 24, 25, 26 and 31.
