Cau de les Goges

Cau de les Goges is an archaeological site in Sant Julià de Ramis, in the province of Girona, sitting on the left bank of the Ter river. It's a modest rock shelter, but one with outsized scientific weight — this is where the Upper Solutrean period of the Paleolithic was first identified and documented in Catalonia.

What exactly is this place?

Cau de les Goges is listed as a cultural asset of national interest and protected as an archaeological zone. It was discovered in 1899 by Viñas and Carles de Palol, who found flint tools attributed to the Upper Paleolithic. Systematic excavations followed in 1920, carried out by Maties Pallarés and Paul Wernert, who dated the occupation layer to the Solutrean period, roughly 19,000–16,000 BC. The deposit itself is estimated at around 18,000 years BP.

The finds suggest the shelter was used as a temporary hunting station — people stopped here briefly during hunting expeditions, leaving behind small tools and traces of activity in and around the site.

Cau de les Goges vs. Cova de les Goges — don't mix them up

Two similarly named sites exist nearby, and it's worth telling them apart. Cau de les Goges is the archaeological shelter described here. Close by once stood Cova de les Goges, a separate site that was destroyed during the widening of the N-II highway. The names get confused, but only the Cau survived — the Cova is gone.

The legend of the goges

The site's name comes from a local legend about the goges — mythical female beings, comparable in folk belief to water spirits or water-women found in other cultures. According to local tradition, the cave was their dwelling, giving this modest archaeological spot an extra layer of folklore.

How to get there?

Cau de les Goges lies within Sant Julià de Ramis, a town just north of Girona in the Ter river valley. The site forms part of a broader walking route through the congost (gorge) and the hill of Sant Julià de Ramis, which links several natural and historical points of interest in the area, including this shelter. The easiest approach is from Girona, only a few kilometres away.

What will you actually see?

This isn't a developed show-cave with lighting or a marked visitor circuit — Cau de les Goges is a small rock shelter valued for its scientific significance rather than dramatic rock formations. Come here to connect with the story of the region's earliest human occupants and to enjoy the scenery of the Ter valley, not expecting a spectacular cave experience.

When to visit?

Since visiting means walking a trail through rocky, hilly terrain, spring and autumn are the best times, when temperatures stay moderate and the path isn't baking under the summer sun. Catalonia can get very hot in summer, which makes longer walks less comfortable.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cau de les Goges a show-cave with a visitor route? No. It's an archaeological site of scientific importance without tourist infrastructure like lighting or guided tours — you visit it as part of a walking trail through the landscape.

What's the difference between Cau de les Goges and Cova de les Goges? They are two different, similarly named sites. Cova de les Goges disappeared during the widening of the N-II highway, while Cau de les Goges survived and is protected as a cultural asset.

Why does this place matter for archaeology? It's where the Upper Solutrean period of the Paleolithic was first identified and documented in Catalonia, based on excavations from 1899 and 1920.

Where does the name "Goges" come from? It comes from a local legend about the goges, mythical female water-spirits said to have inhabited the cave.