There are places that surprise you as soon as you cross the entrance. The Cueva de las Güixas, located in the Huesca town of Villanúa, is one of them. Under the mountain hides a universe of stalactites, stalagmites and natural galleries that the water has been slowly sculpting since the last ice age. A process that began between 25,000 and 30,000 years ago and that today can be explored on a guided tour suitable for all audiences.
Considered one of the most unique cavities in the Aragonese Pyrenees, the cave offers a journey of about an hour between whimsically shaped rock formations, small waterways and corners that seem to be taken from an adventure movie. The lighting highlights the relief of the walls and creates an atmosphere that transports you to another time.
But the Cueva de las Güixas is much more than a geological spectacle. Its galleries were a refuge for men and women since the Neolithic and, centuries later, they also served as a dungeon and hiding place for soldiers.
Added to that past is the halo of mystery that has accompanied the cave for centuries. Manuscript documents and oral legends relate that between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries the cave hosted meetings and supposed witches’ covens, becoming a place loaded with symbolism and popular beliefs. The best known figure is that of Guirandana de Lay, sentenced to death in 1461 accused of sorcery and poisoning.
However, the visit invites us to look at that history from another perspective. Through the explanations of the guides, it is discovered that those women, persecuted and pointed out as witches, were probably victims of the superstitions of the time and were very far from the evil image that legends transmitted for centuries.
A PRIVILEGED ENVIRONMENT
The Cueva de las Güixas is located in a privileged natural environment, next to the river Aragón and very close to a small waterfall, so the excursion allows you to enjoy both the geological heritage and the Pyrenean landscape.
The opinions of those who have already visited it reflect the good taste in the mouth that the experience leaves behind. Many highlight the quality of the explanations during the guided tour and consider that the price of admission is fully justified. «Every euro has seemed well invested,» summarizes one of the comments published by visitors.
Others recommend booking in advance, especially during the busiest months, as capacity is limited and places tend to sell out quickly. There are also frequent reviews that value the surroundings of the cave, describing it as a «spectacular» place, where the landscape, the river and the nearby waterfall make the visit a very complete plan.
PRICES AND HOW TO BOOK
Open all year round, the Cueva de las Güixas is, without a doubt, one of the essential visits for those who travel through the Pyrenees.
Tickets to access the Cave and the CIN Interpretation Centre can be purchased online on the Villanúa Tourism website. All visits are made with a guide and with advance reservation since it is a protected area and a Site of Community Interest (SCI). It is strictly forbidden to access the cave in a private way.
- Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes. You must be punctual at the reserved time.
- Prices: general admission 12 euros, and reduced 9. Children between 0 and 3 years old do not pay.
- Notice: it is advisable to access with comfortable shoes and warm clothes throughout the year.
- Pets are not accessible.
