Tarragona information
Caves in the Costa Daurada
MERAVELLES CAVES - BENIFALLET
The Meravelles Caves of Benifallet are exceptional for their number
and beauty, particularly those known as "eccentric". The slow
drip of water containing dissolved carbonates filtering through
the rocks has given rise to the formation of fascinating shapes.
The visitor can use his imagination to see fantastic figures among
the stalactites and stalagmites and the wide variety of other
formations found in the caves.
Known-locally as the Aumediella Caves, they did not arouse the
interest of speleologists until 1968. The various caves have been
given the following names: Les Meravelles, l'Avenç del Sifó, Cova
d'en E. Marigot, Cova de l'Aumediella Gran, Cova del Dos and Avenç
del Catalanisme.
Address: Ajuntament de Benifallet
C/Major, 1
43512 BENIFALLET
Tel: 977 46 20 05 / 977 46 22 89
Opening hours:
July-September:
Monday-Friday 10.00-14.00 16.00-20.00
Rest of year:
Friday 16.00-19.00
Saturdays and Sundays 10.00-14.00 16.00-19.00
LA COVA DE LA FONT MAJOR - L'ESPLUGA DE FRANCOLÍ
The Font Major Cave is an open door to the geological and prehistoric
past of the area. First discovered in 1853, it was rediscovered
by the scientific world in 1956 and one year later the present-day
entrance was opened up. Orientated from the north-east to the
south-west, it runs under a good part of the town of L'Espluga.
The first 275 metres are dry. After that it connects with an underground
river that flows through a complex of crevices until it finds
its way above ground at the spring known as the Font Major. After
465 metres of underground river, we come to the first syphon in
the area known as the Sala del Pou de Biela (the Hall of the Well
of Biela). The explorations carried out up until 1990 have discovered
3,590 metres of galleries, making it one of the longest caves
in the world.
The cave was used by both Neolithic and Bronze Age man. Evidence
of this is found in the pieces of carved silex, pottery and bronze
objects, particularly needles and hairpins, a sword, an axe and
a dagger. There are also remains of 300,000 year old animals.
Address: L'Espluga de Francolí Tourist Office
Torres Jordi, 16
43440 L'ESPLUGA DE FRANCOLÍ
Office hours:
Monday-Friday: 9.00-13.00 15.00-18.30
Saturdays: 10.00-13.00
Closed Sundays and Holidays
Tel: 977 87 12 20
Opening hours:
July and August: Monday-Sunday mornings and afternoons
Rest of year: Tuesday-Sunday mornings and afternoons
Saturdays and Sundays 10.00-14.00 16.00-19.00
Please contact the Tourist Office to arrange a visiting time.
THE CAVE PAINTINGS OF ULLDECONA
The Cave Paintings of Ulldecona are found in the area of the Godall
Mountains and are a pictorial testament to the way of life and
survival techniques of the inhabitants of this area eight thousand
years ago. Discovered some twenty years ago, they are considered
to be the most important set of cave paintings in Catalonia. As
in all post-palaeolithic paintings, man and animals are the most
frequent subjects. The figures are mainly small, between 10 and
30 centimetres, static and rarely form compositions.
Address: Ulldecona Tourist Office
C/Major, 49
43550 ULLDECONA
Tel:977 57 30 34
Opening hours:
Please contact the Tourist Office