The Alt Maestrat region is very rich in cave paintings, since it is a territory populated since prehistoric times in which a large number of these artistic manifestations of the past have been preserved. These jewels of prehistoric art are integrated into the protected territory of the Valltorta-Gasulla Cultural Park, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in November 2016 by the Generalitat Valenciana. This milestone was the culmination of a long process that began in 1917 with the discovery in La Valltorta of the caves Cova dels Cavalls, del Civil, del Mas d'en Josep and La Saltadora; and later, in 1934 with the discovery of Cova Remigia and El Cingle in La Gassulla.
In this environment, the Valltorta Museum was created, located in the municipality of Tírig, which exhibits a permanent exhibition in its rooms, structured chronologically, starting with the oldest manifestations of prehistoric art, up to the most modern. The Valltorta Museum is the only cave art museum in Valencia.
With an area of about 82 km², it covers different municipalities: Albocàsser, Ares del Maestrat, Benassal, Catí, Les Coves de Vinromà, Morella, Tírig and Vilar de Canes. In it we can find a rich architectural, ethnological and archaeological heritage framed in an extraordinary landscape, where 92 rock art stations stand out, which are part of the rock art of the Mediterranean Arc of the Iberian Peninsula, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998.
The Centelles shelter can be visited in Albocàsser, always by reservation, where there are also 22 other caves and shelters.
In the municipality of Ares del Maestrat there are 47 shelters and stations with rock art, but only the Remígia cave and El Cingle are visited. You also have to book in advance.
Benassal only has two shelters within the cultural park. Despite this, it has a rich heritage of rock art in remote parts of the park, which are not yet open to the public.
In Catí there are only three places with rock art and none are visited.
Tírig is the municipality with the most shelters and caves that can be visited. There are fifteen places with rock art, of which three are visited: the Cova dels Cavalls, the Cova del Civil and the Cova del Mas d'en Josep. All three are emblematic places of the prehistory of the Iberian Peninsula, especially the Cova dels Cavalls and the Cova del Civil, whose fame is worldwide.
Don't miss these wonderful artistic manifestations of the first settlers of this beautiful region.
You can find more information and make reservations for visits on the Museum's website https://museudelavalltorta.gva.es
Telephone: 964 336 010
UNESCO World Heritage Site
In Ares, the Cova Remigia stands out, with more than 750 figures in a good state of preservation. In Albocàsser you can visit the Centelles shelter