The PRM and wheelchair accessible New Altamira Museum is a centre for conservation, research and information about Altamira Cave and Prehistory, featuring an exact reproduction of the cave and its paintings: the New Altamira Cave (Neocueva).

Altamira Cave is a cultural landmark in the history of mankind that became a World Heritage site in 1985. Altamira Cave and Museum are situated in the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, in North Spain, 2 kms from the village of Santillana del Mar.

Natural conditions which had preserved the paintings during millennia began to change and one of the reasons was the number of visitors (more than 50.000 people in 1955 and about 175.000 in 1973): first warnings about the deterioration of the paintings were made and the cave is closed to tourist visits in 1977. The Cave was reopened to the public in 1982 with a maximum of 8,500 visitors a year.

The Consortium for Altamira was formed, and the New Altamira National Museum and Research Centre opens in 2001 housing an exact replica of the famous Chamber of the Paintings.

The permanent exhibition "The Times of Altamira", the New Cave, cultural activities, prehistoric technology workshops, and the surrounding woods and fields make up the Museum's attractions. The museum is based around two main areas; the New Altamira Cave and the galleries dedicated to "The Times of Altamira". In the former visitors can see how the cave looked 15,000 years ago, including the reconstruction of a Palaeolithic camp, an archaeological dig, the artist's workshop, a bear pit, and of course, the Chamber of the Paintings. The galleries hold a large attractive exhibition about everyday life and art in the Upper Palaeolithic, the times of Altamira.

The New Altamira Cave allows visitors to see the beauty of its art and the habitat of its occupants. This is achieved by an exact reproduction of the cave and its paintings, based on scientific data and produced with the latest technology. Furthermore, the New Cave has various points of interest, showing how our ancestors lived more than 14,000 years ago.

Visitors can stroll freely in the natural environment surrounding the museum building, and enjoy its magnificent scenery. To the north, the typical green meadows of Cantabria can be seen, to the south, on clear days, the majestic mountains of Picos de Europa and the Cantabrian Cordillera can be viewed. This large park has been restored with vegetable species that we know once existed around the cave, thanks to pollen studies carried out on the sediments in Altamira cave.

This is a modern, functional museum, integrated in the landscape (the 300 metres path leading to the original Cave is fully accessible). Reserved bays in the parking lot will be available before Summer and the way from there to the level main entrance is easy and barrier-free. All premises in the building are adapted and barrier-free and wheelchairs can be borrowed in the reception area in the main lobby. The adapted toilet is accessed by means of an elevator. The restaurant/coffee shop can be accessed both from the main hall and from the outside by a ramp. There's an accessible outdoors café, too. The Book and Gift Shop is specialised in scientific and general publications on Archaeology, Prehistory and more specifically, about Altamira Cave itself (a large range of gift items are available at the shop). There's a second adapted toilet outside, next to one of the exits.
All the visit, including the replica of the original Cave, is wheelchair accessible by means of ramps, electric platforms or elevators.

All the information and signs in the museum come in Spanish and English. Free guided visits (available in several languages on request) are made daily with museum staff especially trained and should be requested 15 days in advance at least.

As the number of visitors per day is limited, advance booking is recommended ( e-mail reserva@maltamira.mcu.es, Fax: +34 942 840 157, Tel : +34 942 818 102 or through their website ).

Opening Schedule:
Summer: June to September: Tuesday to Saturday 9.30 to 19.30. Sundays and Bank Holidays 9.30 to 15.00
Winter: October to May: Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30 to 17.00. Sundays and Bank Holidays 9.30 to 15.00
Closed: Every Monday

Museo Nacional y Centro de Investigación de Altamira
39330 Santillana del Mar (Cantabria)
Tel: (+34) 942 81 80 05 Fax: (+34) 942 84 01 57
e-mail: informacion@maltamira.mcu.es
http://museodealtamira.mcu.es

Rebecca Arce

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