Cueva de Urdiales o Aurelia

Cueva de Urdiales (Cueva Aurelia) is one of the most fascinating yet least accessible rock art sites in Castro-Urdiales, Cantabria. The cave opens on the southeast slope of Alto de San Andrés, within the Urdiales neighborhood, and its entrance sits inside the garden of a private property known as Villa Aurelia — which explains the cave's alternative name.

How was it discovered?

The property owners had long known about the underground passage on their land, but it was only during archaeological surveys carried out in 1999 that its true significance came to light. The cave walls turned out to hold up to 48 Paleolithic rock art manifestations, alongside cave bear remains and scattered traces of prehistoric use of the space.

What can be found inside the cave?

The rock art in Cueva Aurelia combines several techniques and subjects. Fine incised engravings depict a goat, two horses, two bison and a series of non-figurative lines, complemented by "macaroni-style" tangled, non-figurative engravings. Red paintings add dots and a horse-like figure, while black paintings form the most striking group: up to 19 complete bison and a possible deer figure.

The densest concentration of imagery appears on the so-called "great panel of black bison" — a vertical rock face bearing up to eight bison figures, most of them rendered in full. The style of these depictions, especially the black bison and the goat and horse engravings, corresponds to Leroi-Gourhan's style IV, linking the ensemble to the Middle Magdalenian period — meaning the art is roughly 13,500 years old.

Can you actually visit the cave?

This is the key practical point: Cueva de Urdiales is not currently open to visitors. Its entrance lies inside a private residence, and access is only possible from within the house itself, which severely limits both scientific study and any form of public access. It is not possible to book a visit at this time.

What else is worth doing nearby?

Since the cave itself is off-limits, it's worth spending time in Castro-Urdiales, the coastal town where it sits — a medieval settlement with the striking Gothic church of Santa María de la Asunción, a castle-lighthouse, and a Roman-era bridge. The surrounding hills hold plenty more traces of Paleolithic human presence still awaiting full study, and Cueva Aurelia is the clearest proof of that.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cueva de Urdiales open to tourists? No. The cave sits inside the garden of a private property, and entry is only possible from within the house. Visits cannot currently be booked.

Why is the cave also called Cueva Aurelia? Because it lies on the grounds of a property called Villa Aurelia, on the slope of Alto de San Andrés in the Urdiales neighborhood.

When were the cave paintings discovered? Although the property owners had known about the cave for a long time, its archaeological value was only confirmed by surveys carried out in 1999.

How old are the paintings? Most of the artwork dates to the Middle Magdalenian period, around 13,500 years ago, and its style corresponds to Leroi-Gourhan's style IV.