Rock-shelters of Lázaro and of Toro Negro
Follow the road VF-TE-05 from Albarracín. You need to leave your car 3 km away from the site and walk 800 metres down into the ravine along a trail Albarracín
The mountains in the region of Albarracín are home to a rich collection of rock art belonging to the Rock Art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin. These rock art sites, which were declared a World Heritage Site in 1998, span along the Mediterranean façade, from the Pyrenees to eastern Andalucía. Levantine prehistoric rock art was created between 10000 BC and the Copper Age; i.e. around the year 4500 BC. As for schematic rock art, it was created between the years 5000 BC and 3000 BC (these art sites belong to the Metal Age).
In the mountains in the region of Albarracín, it is possible to find many shelters with many interesting paintings. There are themes taken from classic Levantine cycle (archers, hunting and gathering scenes, naturalistic depictions of animals with colour-wash, etc.) as well as motifs of Iberian schematic art (anthromorphs, zoomorphs and signs, etc.).
These two rock-shelters, both of which belong to the Levantine cycle, are placed very close to each other. The rock-shelter of Lázaro, whose representations are painted in red, contains human figures and animals, depicting hunting and fighting scenes. As for the rock-shelter of Toro Negro, it only contains one figure: a black bull.
Visits:
- Albarracín offers visitors many walking opportunities. There are several marked walking paths, which take tourists close to the shelters containing cave paintings. Given the artistic value of these sites, visitors are kindly reminded of the importance of protecting and preserving the natural areas surrounding these sites.
- Visitors may also sign up for a tour with a guide. More information can be found at this site: El Andador.
- Additional information about general walking paths and other details is available at the tourist information office of Albarracín.
Rev. PAB 26.12.18