Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley

Côa Valley Archaeological Park is one of Europe's largest concentrations of prehistoric open-air rock art. It lies in north-eastern Portugal, around the town of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, along the lower stretch of the Côa river. The UNESCO-listed valley holds thousands of engravings made by people of the Stone Age.

What is the Côa Valley Archaeological Park?

It is a vast archaeological complex where engravings from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic survive on rock faces beside the river. The park covers more than 1,200 engraved panels spread over about eighty sites, within an area of roughly 200 km² shared by four municipalities. The great majority of the images date to the Upper Palaeolithic. The park was established in 1996 to protect the art, study it and open it to visitors.

How was the art discovered, and why is the valley famous?

The engravings were noticed in the early 1990s during surveys for a planned dam on the Côa. The discovery set off loud protests in Portugal, including by schoolchildren, and construction was halted. That story is now as much a part of the visit as the engravings themselves: the remains of the unfinished dam can still be seen at Canada do Inferno.

What will you see?

The images are carved into vertical slabs of schist and granite. They mostly show animals, their outlines built up by repeated incisions in the stone. Some engravings are heavily eroded, so seeing them takes patience and good light.

Three sites are open to visitors:

• Penascosa – tours leave from the visitor centre at Castelo Melhor; the visit lasts about an hour, and night tours are sometimes offered.
• Canada do Inferno – beside the unfinished dam; the tour takes about two hours and includes a walk of around a kilometre.
• Ribeira de Piscos – tours start from the Muxagata centre and take about two and a half hours.

The Côa Museum

The natural starting point is the Côa Museum, opened in 2010 and designed by Camilo Rebelo and Tiago Pimentel. It acts as the hub of the park's activities and works well as an introduction to the valley's art before you head out into the landscape.

How to visit

You cannot explore the valley on your own. Because it is a working archaeological site, access to the engravings is by guided tour only. Book ahead and check current hours and prices on the park's official website (arte-coa.pt), as they vary by season. The museum is usually closed on Mondays. Bring sturdy shoes, a hat and water: the routes cross open terrain and summers in the valley can be very hot.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see the engravings without a guide? No. Visits to the sites are in guided groups because the valley is an active archaeological area.

Which site should I choose if I am short on time? Penascosa is the shortest, at around an hour. Canada do Inferno takes about two hours and also shows the site of the unfinished dam.

How old are the engravings? Most date to the Upper Palaeolithic, though the valley also holds traces from the Neolithic.

Where should I begin? At the Côa Museum in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, where you can learn the story of the discovery and plan your trips to the sites.