Puente Viesgo

Highlights

  • • Four UNESCO World Heritage caves (2008) at Monte Castillo
  • • El Castillo Cave: 40,000+ year-old handprints, possibly the world's oldest art
  • • Las Monedas Cave: longest passage in the hill with numismatic find
  • • Historic spa with medicinal waters since the 18th century
  • • Medieval bridge over the River Pas

Description

Puente Viesgo is a town in the Pas valley 30 km from Santander, world-renowned for the prehistoric caves of Monte Castillo. The limestone hill rising above the village hides a labyrinth of five caves with Palaeolithic rock art, four of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2008.

El Castillo Cave, discovered in 1903, preserves 45 hand prints (possibly the oldest art in the world, over 40,000 years old), 50 symbols and 180 animal depictions. Las Monedas Cave, with the longest passage in Monte Castillo, is named after 20 coins from the Catholic Monarchs era found in a 23-metre sinkhole.

The town also offers a historic spa with medicinal waters known since the 18th century, and the bridge over the River Pas that gives the locality its name. The combination of prehistory, spa tradition and river landscape makes Puente Viesgo an essential stop.

Key Information

Visit Duration

3-4 hours (caves + village)

Related Destinations

Guide

Essential information for visiting Puente Viesgo

Location

How to get there

By carBy public transport
Practical Information
Visit Duration
3-4 hours (caves + village)

Things to do

Activities and experiences near Puente Viesgo

20

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers about Puente Viesgo

Guided tours with advance booking at cuevas.culturadecantabria.com or tel. 942 598 425. Each cave is 45 min.
Two are open to the public: El Castillo and Las Monedas. La Pasiega and Las Chimeneas have restricted access.
Yes. It is one of Cantabria's historic spas with thermal treatments and a medicinal water pool.