Altamira National Museum and Research Centre

An epic journey through prehistoric archaeology to imagine what life was like in the times of Altamira

The permanent exhibition "The Times of Altamira" lets visitors explore the prehistory of Spain. It explains different aspects of prehistoric life in Altamira: art, culture, living conditions, hunting techniques, etc., through the objects that best represent this period in the Iberian peninsula. The museum includes an exact replica of the Altamira Caves and the Palaeolithic cave paintings that revolutionised archaeology when they were discovered by Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola in 1879.  Visit to the Altamira Caves: a controlled and very limited access system for public visits is in operation. Currently, only five people per week can access the cave (260 people per year) with prior booking. Visits are offered to people on a pre-existing waiting list which was closed in 2022.