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Cave of el Reguerillo

Patones, Sierra Norte, Madrid

1 Villages · 2 Monuments · 1 Nature · 1 Curiosities · 1 Historical milestones

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Cave of el Reguerillo

Nature · Patones, Sierra Norte, Madrid

A karst cavity considered the most important in the Community of Madrid for its scientific and speleological interest, declared a monument of national interest in 1944. Between 1970 and 1974 palaeontological excavations directed by Trinidad de Torres were carried out there, bringing to light remains of cave bears. Its easy access and closeness to Madrid attracted groups with no speleological knowledge, who filled it with rubbish and graffiti and reduced its bat colony almost to extinction, which is why since November 2006 it has remained closed with gates and padlocks by order of the Dirección General de Patrimonio de la Comunidad de Madrid, which fines anyone who tries to enter. It preserves several levels of galleries cut into limestone, with access now restricted.

Photo: Roberto.lumbreras (CC BY 3.0)

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