La Lluera Cave

The most comprehensive open-air site of Palaeolithic art in Europe. Its extraordinary importance stems both from the rarity of such sites – most of which are found inside caves – and from the magnificent collection of engravings preserved in its two cavities.

Discovered in 1979, the caves bring together two complementary artistic traditions. The first is dominated by engravings of animals, amongst which horses, aurochs, deer and bison can be recognised. A few metres away lies a second, smaller cavity, whose walls feature geometric figures created using the same technique.

Both may have functioned as complementary outdoor sanctuaries. The combination of the figurative art in the first and the abstract representations in the second constitutes the characteristic iconographic model of the mature phases of Palaeolithic rock art.

Useful information

• Visits take place in very small groups, with a maximum of 6 people per session, and access is permitted only for those aged 7 and over. The visit fee must be paid in cash, with the exact amount, at the cave’s ticket office.
• The walk to the site is approximately 2 km and follows uneven terrain with steep slopes. For this reason, the tour is not recommended for people with visual impairments, reduced mobility, injuries or heart conditions. It is compulsory to wear suitable footwear, preferably trainers or hiking boots with non-slip soles.
• Please be punctual and wait for the guide at the entrance to the estate ten minutes before the tour begins. Animals are not permitted on the estate.

Access

• It is strongly recommended that you walk from the church of San Juan de Priorio, where you can park your car, as there is no car park in the immediate vicinity of the cave.
• From the church, head towards the hamlet of San Juan and walk through the village. At the end of the village, a footpath descends towards the River Nalón and runs alongside the riverbed to the estate, from where you can access the rock-shelter sites. The walk, approximately 2 km long, takes around 25 minutes.
• The G1 and G2 city bus routes connect Oviedo with Las Caldas.