Article - Altamira Caves to be opened to a selected few

[Pauline]

In the Guardian UK today: Altamira cave paintings to be opened to the public once again
"Small groups of visitors will be allowed into Spain's 'Sistine Chapel of paleolithic art', the regional government has said."

Currently people visit a nearby replica, like they do in France for the Lascaux cave, but this summer they will hold random lotteries from the people with tickets for the day and the winners get to visit the real thing. This is a trial to see if they should open the caves again to the public.

Read more about the caves on Museo de Altamira. Altamira is in the Cantabria region of northern Spain, near the city of Torrelavega, close to Santander on the coast. West of Bilbao and San Sebastian.

Last year we visited several caves with prehistoric cave art in France. They were amazing to see.

 

[Parigi]

I am going to die. Pauline, you know how much we love prehistoric caves. And Picasso famously said : "After Alta Mira, all ils decadence."

 

[Pauline]

It was David's article about cave art in France that convinced me to seek out more caves. We saw Niaux, south of Carcassonne, a few years ago, but last summer we saw the caves in the Lot and Dordogne - Pech Merle, Font de Gaume, Lascaux II, Rouffignac. Pech Merle was my favorite.

Paris Update - Beyond the Péripherique: Art Appreciation 10001 BC in the Caves of Southwestern France