Camping near Isturitz and oxocelhaya caves
Discover the ISTURITZ and OXOCELHAYA caves
The Isturitz and Oxocelhaya caves have been classified as Historic Monuments since 1953.
The Isturitz cave
It occupies a privileged position in the foothills of the Western Pyrenees, just a short distance from the current shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean (around 30 km) and the first foothills of the Pyrenees (the first peaks over 1000 m are only 20 km away). On the whole, its main geographical advantage is that it lies at the crossroads between the Aquitaine plain on the one hand, and the Basque-Cantabrian coast and the Ebro valley on the other, the latter being accessible to the south via a series of passes less than 30 kilometers apart.
The stratigraphic section is made up of more than ten archaeological layers spread over two periods (Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic).
The Oxocelhaya cave
Oxocelhaya lies 15 metres below. It’s a magnificent cave sanctuary with a succession of highly concretioned rooms; the time scale is counted in millions of years, a textbook case for a geological reading of a magical underground world. Prehistory is present in the form of rock art, with signs, engravings and clay veneers scattered throughout the depths of the galleries. Horses are in the majority. The Laplace gallery is visited once a week for conservation reasons.
OPENING HOURS :
* March – April – May – October – November: Visits every day from 2pm to 5pm (last visit)
* School vacations and public vacations: 11am and from 2pm to 5pm (last visit).
* June – September: Visits every day at 10.30am & 11.30am and from 2pm to 5pm (last visit).
* July – August: Visits every day from 10am to 6pm (last visit). Cro-mignons” visit (6 to 10 years old, accompanied, 3 days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4:40 p.m.) and during school vacations at 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (reservation required)
Guided tour (French) of the 2 caves – duration 1 hour (allow 1h30 on site)
Credit card required for reservation, but payment on site (credit card, cash, vacation vouchers, etc.).
For changes to bookings, please call 05 59 29 64 72.
The caves are open – 7 days a week
RATES
Adult: €12.50
Children (4/11 years): €6.00
Teenager (12/17 years): €8.50
Student / Jobseeker / Disability card: €10.00
Family special
2 adults & 3 paying children (4-11years): €37.00
How to prepare your departure from the campsite for the ISTURITZ and OXOCELHAYA caves?
Practical information
– Temperature in the caves: 14C°.
– Tour duration: 1 hour
– Minimum time spent on site: 1h30
– Arrive ¼ hour before visiting time
– 15min walk from parking lot to reception
– Strollers: yes outside, no inside caves
– Ideal baby carrier
– Warm clothing and closed shoes
– Free parking
– Outdoor picnic area
– Handicapped-accessible washrooms in the parking lot
– Boutique Nature et Préhistoire
– Museum space
– Beverage and confectionery dispenser
– Snack with local products, to take away or on site, in July and August
– Defibrillator
– The caves can be visited in all weathers.