Zuheros and the Cave of the Bats
Andalusia, Spain
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Cueva de los Murciélagos
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300
XP
+100 Spain
= 400 total
1 day
Zuheros and the Cave of the Bats
300 + 100 XP
Zuheros is a white village on a crag in the Sierras Subbéticas with a Muslim castle built into the rock above it, and above that is the Cueva de los Murciélagos. Excavations in 1962 and 1969 pushed the start of the Andalusian Neolithic back by a thousand years. The cave divides into three: a lit vestibule where people actually lived, a sanctuary with Neolithic and Chalcolithic paintings, and a burial zone at the back. Homo sapiens also left engravings and paintings of horses and deer here from around 18,000 years ago. The Vía Verde de la Subbética, on an abandoned railway, runs along the valley below through tunnels and over viaducts. The village also makes a sheep's cheese that it is known for across the province.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Climb to the Cueva de los Murciélagos and find the three zones — the lived-in vestibule, the painted sanctuary and the burials at the back
2
of 5
Work out what the 1962 and 1969 digs established: that the Andalusian Neolithic began a thousand years earlier than anyone thought
3
of 5
Go into the Muslim castle built directly onto the crag above the houses
4
of 5
Ride or walk the Vía Verde de la Subbética through the tunnels and over the viaducts below the village
5
of 5
Eat the local sheep's cheese, which is what Zuheros sells beyond its own valley
Climb to the Cueva de los Murciélagos and find the three zones — the lived-in vestibule, the painted sanctuary and the burials at the back
Work out what the 1962 and 1969 digs established: that the Andalusian Neolithic began a thousand years earlier than anyone thought
Go into the Muslim castle built directly onto the crag above the houses
Ride or walk the Vía Verde de la Subbética through the tunnels and over the viaducts below the village
Eat the local sheep's cheese, which is what Zuheros sells beyond its own valley
Before you go
Cave visits are guided, timed and limited in number. The road up to the cave is narrow with tight bends.
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About Andalusia
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
300 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
400 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
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