The caves of l’Espluga de Francolí are open doors to the geological and prehistoric past of our country

The extensive cave extends beneath the current nucleus of l’Espluga de Francolí. Speleological explorations that began in 1956 have allowed for the exploration and mapping of 3,600 meters of galleries to date, making it one of the longest caves in the world formed by conglomerate.

Archaeological findings inside these caves date back to the Paleolithic period and throughout history. The latest discovery occurred on October 30, 2019, when a team from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) found a Paleolithic sanctuary containing over 300 engravings, some of which date back over 36,000 years.

This is the oldest sanctuary discovered in Catalonia, marking a significant date in Catalan archaeological history. Currently, visits to this space are not permitted, but visitors can view images and understand its importance through an audiovisual presentation.

Visits to the caves are always guided, offering a journey through various stages of prehistory where human presence has been evidenced through geological formations within the cavity.

The caves offer the Adventure Route for the more adventurous visitors: a speleology tour through the underground river wearing neoprene suits. This route allows participants to explore the geological formation of these conglomerate caves, the filtering process, the water current, the pathway, the river circuit, the joints, and the wells that led to their rediscovery.