Cuevas de Urdax

Urdazubiko Lezeak - Cueva de Ikaburu

Useful Information

Location:	Near Urdazubi. (43º 16' 36.07" N - 1º 30' 43.65" W)
Open:	JAN to FEB Tue-Fri 10-14, Sat, Sun Hol 10-18. MAR to JUN daily 10-18. JUL to AUG daily 10-19. SEP to OCT daily 10-18. NOV to DEC Tue-Sun 10-18. Closed 25-DEC, 01-JAN. [2011]
Fee:	Adults EUR 4.50, Children (3-18) EUR 2.50, Children (0-3) free. Groups (+): Adults EUR 3, Children (3-18) EUR 2. [2011]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=14-16 °C
Guided tours:	D=40 min, L=350 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Cuevas de Urdax, Leorlas s/n, 31711 Urdazubi/Urdax, Tel: +34-948-599241. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

The Cuevas de Urdax are located at the French-Spanish border. This is Basque country and the basque name of the caves is Urdazubiko Lezeak. The name actually means "caves of Urdax", which is the town located in a heavily karstified area. The Basque name of Urdax is Urdazubik and means language "water and bridge". The show cave is actually called Cueva de Ikaburu, it is the only cave in the area which is open to the public. It is a river cave, the cave rive is called Urtxuma. The tour shows the extraordinary speleothems of the cave. Also the legends of the smugglers are told, which once used the cave. The cave was used as a hideout by soldiers during the War of Independence and the Carlist conflicts.

The area has numerous legends on witches, and Ikaburu shares some of them. It is said the cave was once the home of lamia, mythological monsters which had the head and torso of a woman and a fish tail. They are seen as demons or witches.

Other caves of Urdax are the two prehistoric caves, the Cave of Alkerdi and the Cave of Berroberría.