If you’re an outdoor lover, you’ll love exploring Catalonia’s caves and caverns. Just a short drive from Barcelona, you can take underground tours, see the remains of prehistoric civilizations, and discover the natural beauty that exists outside the bustling Catalan capital. Here are some of the best caves to visit near Barcelona for those times when you need an adventure outside the city.
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El Toll
A little over an hour by car north of Barcelona, the prehistoric “El Toll” caves in Moià are some of the best to see in all of Catalonia. You can discover their huge historical and archaeological value at the Archaeological and Paleontologic Museum of Moià. In fact, the caves are some of the most important in Europe thanks to the prehistoric remains found there such as flint tools between 100,000 and 40,000 years old. On the tour of the caves, you’ll learn about what everyday life was like for prehistoric men, including how they crafted tools, built fires, hunted, made pottery, and more. Children will especially love visiting the caves and learning about prehistory in the process. The complex contains four caverns in total and is open for individuals, groups, and school visits.
Location: Carretera N141c, km 32, 08180, Barcelona
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Serinyà Prehistoric Cave Park
Located just an hour and a half outside the city, Serinyà Prehistoric Cave Park is well worth a visit. The area was occupied by man from the Middle Palaeolithic Age all the way until Metal Ages. Among the most important archaeological findings in the park was a skull dating back to 22,300 years ago. Guided tours for individuals and school groups are offered where visitors will get a chance to see all three important caves making up the park: Reclau Caves, Abreda Cave, and Mollet Cave where the earliest evidence of human remains in Catalonia have been discovered.
Location: C-66, Km. 51, 17852 Serinyà, Girona
Salnitre Caves
Photo by .acidreams. via Visualhunt
The Salnitre Caves are also known as the Montserrat Caves or Collbató Caves and are located about 45 minutes from Barcelona by car. These caves are particularly interesting because they played a role in the work of Gaudí, providing inspiration in his architecture. They’re also the perfect destination for adventure lovers who will enjoy exploring the 500 meters of stalactites, stalagmites, and columns in the caves’ interior depths. This underground world is one of the most beautiful caves in Catalonia to explore. If you’re planning on visiting Montserrat anyway, stopping at the nearby caves is a must.
Location: 08293 Collbató, Barcelona
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*Main photo by Patrimoni. Generalitat de Catalunya. via VisualHunt
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