La Roca dels Moros - El Cogul Cave Paintings

NOTE: Please see the full schedule in the "Plan Your Visit" section.

The ticket office and entrance shut 30 minutes before closing time.

From 16 September to 30 June

Tuesday with booking.
Wednesday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 14.30 pm (+30’) / Afternoons with booking.
Sundays and public holidays from 10.00 am to 14.30 pm (+30’).

Closed on December 25th and 26th and from January 1st to 15th.

Summer opening hours (From 1 July to 15 September)
Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 14.30 pm (+30’) / Afternoons with booking.
Sundays and public holidays from 10.00 am to 14.30 pm (+30’).

Tel.: 672445990
e-mail: reservescogul.acdpc@gencat.cat

 

El Cogul Virtual Tour

 

ABOUT THE SITE

The cave paintings at La Roca dels Moros (El Cogul, Les Garrigues) in the Set River valley are among the most notable examples of rock art in the Mediterranean Basin. The site was the first collection of prehistoric paintings scientifically documented in Catalonia and has been regarded as an archetype of prehistoric art ever since its discovery in 1908.

The paintings feature 48 human and animal figures in the Levantine and schematic styles. The most impressive element is the central scene, which stands out not only for its technical excellence but also the themes it presents. It consists of the depiction of various female figures dancing in pairs around a naked man with a disproportionately large penis and seems to be connected with a fertility cult. The scene, which is unique in rock art in the Mediterranean Basin, has drawn international attention to the paintings of La Roca dels Moros.

Most of the images were painted during the transition between the Palaeolithic and the Neolithic, a period known as the Epipalaeolithic, approximately 10,000 years ago. The Set River valley was inhabited continuously from the Palaeolithic onwards and the La Roca dels Moros rock shelter was used as a place of worship for 5,000 years. The last hunter-gatherer groups (8th-5th millennia BC) created the Levantine paintings here. The schematic human and animal figures were drawn later (5th-2nd millennia BC) by Neolithic peoples.

The rock art at La Roca dels Moros was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1998.

The collection of art here also includes eleven engravings and more than 256 signs in Iberian, Roman and Latin inscriptions. The presence of these later works and their distribution across the rockface suggests that those who produced them were aware of and respected the existence of the cave paintings, a fact explained by the sacred nature of this place.

Discover the Roca dels Moros with the project Els Ulls de la Història: an immersive look at Catalan heritage

General: €6
Reduced: €4

Entitled to concessionary admission charge:

  • People aged 65 and over.
  • Pensioners.
  • Holders of the Carnet Jove.
  • Students with an international student card.
  • Holders of a large family or single-parent family card.
  • Non-tourist groups of 10 people. If any member is entitled to free admission, they will continue to benefit from it. Non-tourist groups of 10 or more with prior reservation. If any member of the group is entitled to free admission, they may continue to benefit from this reduction.
  • Members of Carnet Artesà upon presentation of proof of their status.
  • Holders of the “RCat (Recercat)” card, upon presentation of proof of their status.
  • Members of Associació Catalana de Crítics d'Art upon presentation of proof of their status.
  • Members of the “Catalan Association for Heritage Education”, upon presentation of proof of their status.
  • Members of CRAC. Conservadors-Restauradors Associats de Catalunya upon presentation of proof of their status.

Entitled to free admission:

  • Children under 16 years old.
  • Unemployed persons, upon presentation of proof of their status.
  • Accredited members of the ICOM (International Council of Museums) or ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments).
  • Accredited members of the Associació de Museòlegs de Catalunya.
  • Accredited professional tourist guides, upon presentation of proof of their status.
  • Professional tourist information staff, upon presentation of proof of their status.
  • Official education teachers, accredited by the management of the educational centre. Only valid teaching staff cards will be accepted.
  • Accredited press professionals who have previously communicated their visit in writing in the course of their work.
  • Disabled people upon presentation of a certificate confirming their disabled status. The accompanying person will also have free admission.
  • Foster families upon presentation of proof of their status.
  • School parties (pupils in the general education system and special education with teaching staff) with a prior booking.
  • Teachers in formal education, accredited by the school management. Only a valid teaching staff card will be accepted.
  • Teachers from the Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística, upon presentation of proof of their status.
  • Accredited members of the Associació Mentora.
  • Employees of the ACdPC, duly accredited, with a maximum of 3 accompanying persons.

Special cases:

  • Free admission will be granted on the International Day for Monuments and Sites, April 18.
  • Free admission will be granted on the National Day of Catalonia, September 11.
  • Free admission will be granted during the three days of the European Heritage Days.
  • Groups that book through a tourism-related agency, operator or similar company will benefit from a 25% reduction on the applicable admission rate. The authorised guide or person accompanying the group will be given free admission.

NB. These are the current opening hours and they replace any other timetable published previously on the site’s website or on other websites, as well as in information leaflets and booklets.

The ticket office and entrance shut 30 minutes before closing time.

From 16 September to 30 June
Tuesday with booking
Wednesday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 14.30 pm (+30’) / Afternoons with booking
Sundays and public holidays from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm

EASTER WEEK OPENING TIMES (the ticket office and entrance shut 30 minutes before closing time)

Friday and Saturday: from 10.00 am to 14.30 pm (+30’) / Afternoons with booking
Sunday and Monday from 10.00 am to 14.30 pm (+30’)

Summer opening hours (From 1 July to 15 September)
Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 14.30 pm (+30’) / Afternoons with booking
Sundays and public holidays from 10.00 am to 14.30 pm (+30’)

VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE*

From 10:15 a.m., every hour: 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m.

Access to the balm: From 10:45 a.m., every hour: 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m**

*Timetables will be subject to the considerations of the Center's staff and the possible exceptionalities that may arise.

**If you have accessed before the close of ticket sales (2:30 p.m.).

Guided tours for groups

Guided tours for groups by prior booking

For more information or to book, call 672 445 990 (during the site’s opening hours) or email reservescogul.acdpc@gencat.cat.

Pets are not allowed inside the monument.

The site is partly adapted for people with disabilities.

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