A great little museumThis is how this didactic installation could be defined, great for families with children and a wonderful alternative for one of those rainy days that are common in Asturias. The passion of the guides in the explanations infect us with their enthusiasm at all times. The amount of information transmitted to us in just one hour guided tour, makes this cavern become something bigger and more overwhelming at times.
Avin's cave
With the nickname of La Cuevona, it is located in the town of Avín, municipality of Onís. Before entering the cave, a video already places us at the time and tells us about the most common species in Asturias. Once inside, the exhibition area surprises with its spaciousness. A natural skylight allows a halo of light to fill the space. The journey through the bowels of this cave is totally accessible. We walk along an artificial footbridge while an internal stream flows through the cavern, and we get closer to several reproductions of mammoths, giant deer or woolly rhinos, typical of the megafauna that inhabited the area during the Pleistocene.
The guided tour
We embark on a very interesting journey through time that usually becomes very short. The number of questions that will remain in the pipeline will be great, and that throughout the visit we will be able to interact leisurely with the guides who expose their knowledge in small groups, in a personalized way, making everything easier if there are children, always using similes and very illustrative examples so that the public experience is more rewarding and enjoyable.
glacial fauna
The guides are a source of knowledge and the animal reproductions of the time are very illuminating. They are figures that have the real size that these specimens reached at that time. They make a big impression. especially the mammoth from the entrance to the cave that usually delights children. It was covered by a mantle of wool up to 90 centimeters long, it had tusks that could exceed 4,5 meters in length and were very effective for digging through the ice.
Replicas of neandertals around a fire, a tiger Sabertooth (that big cat whose upper canines doubled those of a modern lion), a cave panther, a giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus, the largest cervid in history with more than 2 meters in height without counting the antlers) and an adult female and a calf of the “steppe rhinoceros” (Stephanorhinus hemitoechus) complete the exhibition.
When the ice disappeared in the Picos de Europa area, these species could not adapt to the increase in temperature, leaving outstanding fossils. More than one will find it very interesting to complete the visit to the center with a spelological excursion to the cave of La Peruyal. There are perfectly preserved remains of a rhinoceros calf that was trapped after accidentally falling into the chasm. A detailed replica of this finding can also be seen in the Cuevona.
Interesting information
The visit to the center is completed with a mineral collection with explanatory panels about the mines and fossils in the area. The passes to the Cuevona are always guided. They have one approximate duration of 50 minutes and they are carried out on the hour, so it is recommended to go to the entrance of the center about 10 minutes before the hour.
· WINTER SCHEDULE
Arrange visits on the phone 616 21 24 83.
· TIMETABLE SUMMER
From June 15 to August 31.
11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 13:00 p.m., 16:00 p.m., 17:00 p.m., 18:00 p.m. and 19:00 p.m.
· Rates
· Adults: €4,00
Children: €2,50
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
