Cueva de las Ventanas

Cueva de las Ventanas is a karst cave in the municipality of Píñar, in the province of Granada, Andalusia, designated a Natural Monument and recognized as an archaeological site of major importance. The name, meaning "cave of windows," refers to natural openings in the rock face that let daylight into the interior, creating bright gaps visible even from outside.

How far back does the site's history go?

Traces of human presence inside the cave date back to the Upper Paleolithic, with the earliest occupation estimated at around 30,000 years before our era. Over the following millennia the cave served as a sanctuary, shelter and place of worship for a succession of communities. Archaeologists have found tools linked to the Upper Paleolithic, rock engravings dated to the transition between the Gravettian and Solutrean cultures, Neolithic and Chalcolithic pottery, Bronze Age implements, and even medieval ceramics. Romans, Visigoths and Almoravids also made use of the cave, leaving behind pottery fragments and other traces of their presence.

What can visitors see on the tour?

The tourist route covers roughly 500 meters and winds through a section of the cave illuminated by nearly 300 artistic lighting points that highlight the rock formations and give the interior an almost magical feel. A guided visit lasts about one hour. Cueva de las Ventanas is the only cave in the province of Granada open to visitors every single day of the year, and at the same time the only cave in Spain fitted out for visitors with reduced mobility.

How do visitors reach the cave entrance?

The cave was opened to tourism in 1999. Before the tour begins, visitors are taken up through the winding streets of the town of Píñar aboard a small tourist train, which reaches the cave entrance in about fifteen minutes, sparing guests the steep climb up the narrow hillside lanes.

Why pair the cave with the rest of Píñar?

The town of Píñar itself, spread picturesquely at the foot of a hill topped with the remains of an old fortress, makes a natural extension of a cave visit. The combination of karst scenery, views over the surrounding farmland, and the compact layout typical of villages in this part of Granada province means a trip to Cueva de las Ventanas can easily fill a whole morning or afternoon.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the cave tour take? The standard guided route takes about one hour and covers a section roughly 500 meters long.

Is the cave accessible for visitors with reduced mobility? Yes — it is the only cave in Spain adapted for visitors with reduced mobility.

Is the cave open all year round? Yes, it is the only cave in the province of Granada open to visitors every day of the year, regardless of season.

Where does the name "cave of windows" come from? From natural openings in the rock wall that let daylight into the cave, also visible from the outside.

Since when has the cave been open to the public? The tourist route opened in 1999, although traces of human presence in the cave date back to the Upper Paleolithic.