Photo: Museo de Altamira y E. Dohijo · CC BY-SA 3.0 · editedMuseo de Altamira
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José Luis Filpo Cabana · CC BY 3.0 · edited
Why go
- The Neocave recreation shows Altamira as it appeared around 15,000 years ago.
- Ceiling paintings recreated using Paleolithic drawing, engraving and painting techniques.
- Archaeological collections from Altamira and Cantabrian caves, including El Castillo and Chufín.
Opening hours
Today09:30 – 20:00Show all
Don't miss
- Neocave ceiling paintingsLook up at the reproduced ceiling paintings by Pedro Saura and Matilde Múzquiz.Inside the Neocave
Know before you go
- The original Cave of Altamira is closed to visitors; visits take place in the Neocave replica and museum.
What's inside
- Times of Altamira (Los tiempos de Altamira) brings together objects from Altamira, El Morín, El Juyo and El Rascaño.
- The museum also displays finds from nearby archaeological sites.
Tips for your visit
- Plan your visit around both the replica cave and the adjacent museum.
Interesting facts3
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The Neocave replica was made to protect the original cave from damage caused by visitors.
National Museum and Research Center of Altamira - Wikipedia -
Studying the original cave while developing the replica led researchers to find additional paintings and engravings.
National Museum and Research Center of Altamira - Wikipedia -
The museum is one of Spain’s national museums and is attached to the Ministry of Culture.
National Museum and Research Center of Altamira - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
A replica was proposed after waits to enter the original cave exceeded a year.
- 36,000 years agoThe cave paintings date back as far as 36,000 years.
- Over the following 20,000 yearsThe paintings were added to or altered over a further 20,000 years.
- 1868The caves were discovered.
- Visitor damageVisitor condensation damaged the paintings, leading to the cave’s closure.
- 2001The current museum complex opened beside the cave, designed by architect Juan Navarro Baldeweg.
How to get there
- On footAvda. Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola s/n, Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, Spain. The original cave lies 500 metres north of the museum.
Sources: National Museum and Research Center of Altamira… · Santillana del Mar - Wikivoyage (see) · Museo Nacional y Centro de Investigación de Alt… · checked 29 Sep 2026
- Phone
- +34 942 81 80 05
Questions and answers
When is Museo de Altamira open?
Tuesday to Saturday, 09:30–20:00, and Sunday, 09:30–15:00.
Does Museo de Altamira offer workshops?
Yes, it offers workshops on prehistoric technologies.
How can I contact Museo de Altamira?
Call +34 942 81 80 05.
Which caves are represented in Museo de Altamira’s collections?
They include material from El Castillo in Puente Viesgo, El Morín in Villanueva de Villaescusa, Chufín in Riclones and Juyo in Igollo de Camargo.
Who designed Museo de Altamira?
Juan Navarro Baldeweg designed the current complex, which opened in 2001.
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